Adjuvant Chemotherapy Improves Outcomes for Breast Cancer Patients with Isolated Tumor Cells or Micrometastases

January 5, 2009 — Adjuvant chemotherapy reduces recurrences and improves disease-free survival at five years for patients with early breast cancer who have isolated tumor cells or nodal micrometastases detected upon sentinel lymph node dissection. These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Denosumab Improves BMD in Breast Cancer Patients Taking Aromatase Inhibitors

January 5, 2009 — Researchers from the United States and Canada reported that the fully human monoclonal antibody, denosumab (Amgen), consistently increases bone mineral density (BMD) in women with non-metastatic breast cancer receiving long-term treatment with aromatase inhibitors. These results were presented at the 2008 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) December 10-14, 2008.

Antioxidant Supplements Do Not Reduce Cancer Risk

January 5, 2009 — In a study of close to 8,000 women, supplementation with vitamin C, vitamin E, or beta carotene did not reduce the risk of developing or dying of cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Radiation Therapy plus Hormone Therapy Cuts Prostate Cancer Deaths in Half

January 5, 2009 — The addition of radiation therapy to hormone therapy for the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer reduces prostate cancer deaths by 50%, according to the results of a Scandinavian study published in the Lancet.

CYP2D6 Gene Variants May Affect Responses to Tamoxifen Among Breast Cancer Patients

January 5, 2009 — Among postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, those with certain variations in the CYP2D6 gene derived little benefit from tamoxifen (Nolvadex®); based on these findings, researchers at the Mayo Clinic recommend CYP2D6 testing for postmenopausal women being considered for adjuvant tamoxifen therapy.  These results were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.