Breast Cancer Information Center

Breast Cancer News

Oncotype DX® Also Provides Information About Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status (06/24/2008)
Oncotype DX®, a genomic test that predicts likelihood of chemotherapy benefit and risk of recurrence among women with early-stage breast cancer, also provides information about the estrogen and progesterone receptor status of breast cancers. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Bone Marker Associated with Survival in Breast, Prostate, and Lung Cancers (06/23/2008)
The bone marker N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX) is associated with skeletal-related events and survival among patients with cancer that has spread to the bone (bone metastases).  Improved outcomes may be achieved by reducing these markers through treatment with agents such as Zometa® (zoledronic acid). These results were recently published in the journal Cancer.

Mayo Clinic Reports Increasing Use of Mastectomy for Early-stage Breast Cancer (06/09/2008)
The number of mastectomies performed for early-stage breast cancer at the Mayo Clinic increased by 13% over a three-year period. Increasing use of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may explain some of the increased use of mastectomy. These results were presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Tykerb® Effective in Recurrent Inflammatory Breast Cancer (06/06/2008)
Among women with recurrent HER2-positive inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), treatment with Tykerb® (lapatinib) is effective, even among patients whose cancer has progressed following treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab). These results were recently reported at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Targeted Therapy with Tykerb® and Herceptin® Improves Survival of Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer (06/06/2008)
Among women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer who have been previously treated with Herceptin® (trastuzumab), the combination of Tykerb® (lapatinib) and Herceptin improves progression-free survival, and possibly overall survival, compared with Tykerb alone. These findings were recently presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.