Breast Cancer News You Can Use

To help you stay on top of the latest breast cancer-related research and findings, Breast Cancer Network of Strength brings you News You Can Use, a monthly summary of some of the latest on breast cancer research and studies. We welcome your feedback; please send e-mail to contact@networkofstrength.org.

July 2009

Less-toxic drug prolongs survival in metastatic breast cancer
A study led by William Gradishar, M.D., found that the drug nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) prolonged progression-free survival by almost seven months compared with docetaxel (Taxotere).

Studies reach different conclusions on interaction of antidepressants and tamoxifen
Two large studies—one in the United States and the other in the Netherlands—reached different conclusions when they examined the risk of recurrence in women with breast cancer who took tamoxifen along with certain commonly prescribed antidepressants, such as Prozac and Paxil. U.S. researchers found an increased risk of recurrence; researchers from the Netherlands did not.

Questions swirl around Avastin
Some researchers are wondering if, after Avastin is stopped, cancer cells spread more aggressively than before, dulling the drug’s effect. Such a “rebound effect” could explain why Avastin therapy is not resulting in bigger survival gains even as the drug makes pictures on imaging scans look better.

Are anthracyclines justified for breast cancer?
Recent findings indicate that benefits from anthracycline-containing regimens are restricted mainly to the minority of patients with HER2-positive breast tumors. One hypothesis to explain the association between HER2 status and anthracycline response is that HER2 amplification is merely a marker for changes in topoisomerase II alpha.

Concern about antioxidants and breast cancer
Many women with breast cancer continue to take antioxidant supplements despite worries that the pills may interfere with treatment, according to a study published in Cancer. The report is the latest to raise concerns about the large number of cancer patients turning to megadoses of vitamin and mineral supplements in hopes of boosting their health.

How to read a medical abstract in a research study
An abstract is a summary of research that allows readers to quickly learn about the important aspects of a study. In medical journals, an abstract is usually presented at the beginning of the published article. Although the intended audiences for most abstracts are medical and scientific professionals, it is becoming more common for patients and their friends and family members to read abstracts while learning about cancer and researching treatment options. Unlike most journal articles, abstracts are easier to search online and can usually be accessed free of charge.

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