Breast Cancer

Patients with for HER2-positive breast cancer have an increased risk of developing brain tumors.

Pembrolizumab is an anti-programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) therapy designed to increase the immune system’s ability to detect and fight tumor cells.

The treatment significantly reduced risk of occurrence by 25% compared with endocrine therapy alone.

Data from the second interim analysis of the DETECT V trial, presented at ESMO Congress 2024, suggest that a chemotherapy-free regimen combining dual HER2-targeted therapy with endocrine therapy, particularly with the addition of ribociclib, may be an effective treatment for patients.

Overall survival results from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 study provide evidence of improved long-term outcomes from this pembrolizumab-based regimen.

The gut and intratumoral microbiota influence cancer development, progression, and treatment responses, highlighting the potential for treatment strategies that leverage these microbial interactions to enhance cancer therapies.

Disparities continue in younger patients, raising the need for novel interventions to mitigate challenges associated with younger age at diagnosis.

The study authors suggest that annual screening for women aged 40 and older may be beneficial, but warn of the increased risk of false positive results.

The authors stress that health care providers should explain false positive results to their patients, reassure them that results may be negative, and stress the significance of continued screenings.

Pharmacists play a crucial role in supporting patients with HR+/HER2– breast cancer.

Fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki has received 4 breakthrough therapy designations, including the latest approval.

AC699 is being evaluated for patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2–), estrogen receptor 1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression on or after at least 1 line of endocrine-based therapy.

The findings provide guidance for clinicians and patients when navigating therapeutic options to establish treatment plans.

Prediction model can accurately predict the risk of nerve damage in patients who received taxane-based chemotherapy.

Tepylute is a ready-to-dilute, injectable formula that reduces preparation time and enable dosing accuracy.

Data presented at ASCO 2024 show fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd) delayed cancer growth in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-low or -ultralow disease that progressed following endocrine therapy (ET).

The addition of ribociclib (Kisqali; Novartis) to endocrine therapy demonstrated a 28% risk reduction in invasive disease-free survival.

The priority review of inavolisib is for treatment of patients with advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with a PIK3CA mutation.

The authors note further research on technological monitoring methods can help health care providers better optimize patient care and improve nonadherence and nonpersistence.

Inavolisib was submitted to the FDA for review as a first-line treatment for advanced HR-positive, HER2-negative PIK3CA-mutated breast cancer.

A medical expert compares CDK4/6 inhibitors and discusses the importance of monitoring specific parameters, such as ECGs and laboratory tests, to minimize adverse events associated with each drug.

5. Frank Scimeca, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, leads a discussion on sequencing CDK4/6 inhibitors, comparing their side effect profiles, toxicity benefits, and progression-free survival (PFS) advantages. He emphasizes the need for additional biomarkers and clearer guidance from the NCCN to aid in selecting the most appropriate drug for each patient.

Both MetS and obesity status have independent and differential associations with breast cancer, and may serve as separate targets for breast cancer prediction and prevention strategies.

The study data demonstrate that higher adiposity in childhood results in less dense breast tissue forming, reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Britny Brown, PharmD, BCOP, discusses the importance of the NCCN guidelines in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and explains how the NCCN recommendations for CDK4/6 inhibitors differ for first-line patients.

Heather Moore, BCOP, CPP, PharmD, discusses patient adherence to CDK4/6 inhibitors in clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of educating patients on drug efficacy and potential toxicities, monitoring for adverse events, and following up with patients to ensure better adherence.

Key opinion leaders discuss the characteristics they consider when selecting among the different CDK4/6 inhibitors for individual patients, emphasizing the importance of evaluating the toxicity profiles of medications to choose the most appropriate therapy, as well as considering sequencing biomarkers and social determinants of health.

An expert panel discusses the clinical and economic impact of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) on patients, the prognosis for those with mBC, the three FDA-approved CDK4/6 inhibitors for HR+/HER2- mBC, and the importance of overall survival as a clinical trial endpoint and its relevance to clinical practice.

The screenings should be conducted every other year, beginning at age 40 and continuing through age 74, according to the new recommendation.

The investigators note that additional research is needed to confirm positive overall survival trends in this patient population.