Articles

September 16, 2012-September 22, 2012

Experimental Drug May Benefit Patients With AI-Resistant Breast Cancer.

MedPage Today (9/19, Bankhead) reports, "A tamoxifen-like drug slowed progression of advanced postmenopausal breast cancer previously treated with a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor [AI], according to" a study presented at the Breast Cancer Symposium, sponsored by ASCO, among others. Researchers reported that "in a phase II trial, patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer treated with toremifene (Fareston) had a clinical benefit rate almost double that of women treated with the steroidal aromatase inhibitor exemestane (Aromasin)." The investigators reported that "the progression hazard was reduced by 38% in the toremifene arm, although objective response rate and overall survival did not differ between treatment groups."

Everolimus Added To Exemestane May Benefit Certain Breast Cancer Patients.

MedPage Today (9/19, Bankhead) reports, "Older patients with advanced, relapsed, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer had significant improvement in progression-free survival with no increased toxicity when the mTOR inhibitor everolimus (Afinitor) was added to exemestane (Aromasin), a new analysis of a randomized trial showed." Researchers found that "patients 65 and older had a 41% reduction in the hazard for progression when treated with everolimus as compared with patients who received exemestane and placebo." The investigators reported that "adverse events occurred more often in those who received the everolimus-exemestane combination, but grade 3-4 adverse events were uncommon." The findings were presented at the Breast Cancer Symposium, sponsored by ASCO, among others.

Least Aggressive Breast Cancer May Still Pose Risk Of Death 10 Years After Diagnosis.

HealthDay (9/19, Preidt) reports, "The most common and least aggressive form of breast cancer still poses a risk of death more than 10 years after a woman is diagnosed with the disease, according to a new long-term study" published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Researchers found that "women with luminal A tumors (a subtype of breast cancer generally believed to have the best prognosis) were still at risk for death from the cancer more than 10 years after their diagnosis." The investigators "also found that women with HER2-enriched and luminal B tumors were about twice as likely to die from breast cancer than those with luminal A tumors."

FDA Approves First Imaging Device For Dense Breasts.

Bloomberg News (9/19, Edney) reports that the Food and Drug Administration has approved the "first ultrasound device designed to help detect cancer in women with dense breasts." In a press statement, the agency said it cleared Sunnyvale, California-based U-Systems's somo-v Automated Breast Ultrasound System (ABUS) in "combination with standard mammography in women who have a negative mammogram and no symptoms of breast cancer."

CQ (9/19, Subscription Publication) notes that according to the National Cancer Institute, "about 40 percent of women undergoing screening mammography have dense breasts," which put them at an "increased risk of breast cancer" because detection usually occurs at a "more advanced and difficult to treat stage." In announcing the approval, the FDA "said ultrasound imaging has been shown to be able to detect small masses in dense breasts." The uniquely shaped transducer of the ABUS "can automatically scan the entire breast in about one minute to produce several images for review."

HealthDay (9/19, Esposito) reports CDRH's Office of In Vitro Diagnostic Device Evaluation and Safety Director Alberto Gutierrez, PhD, noted that physicians generally, "recommend additional screening using ultrasound for women with dense breast tissue and a negative" mammogram reading; and Dr. Gutierrez said the "somo-v ABUS is a safe and effective breast ultrasound tool when such screening is recommended."

According to MedPage Today (9/19, Gever), approval was based on a "trial in which radiologists examined mammograms from 200 asymptomatic women with dense breasts, with and without supplementary ultrasound images from the somo-v ABUS device. Results indicated that use of the ultrasound images increased breast cancer detection by about 30%." As part of the approval, the FDA said women who have "had a previous breast intervention such as surgery or biopsy would not generally be eligible for screening with the device" because it "might alter the appearance of breast tissue in an ultrasound image."

Calif. governor signs breast density notification bill

After vetoing legislation last year, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill over the weekend that requires women in the state to be notified following a mammogram if they have dense breast tissue, according to the bill's author, Sen. Joe Simitian.

Click here to read the rest of the article.