Breast Cancer

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.

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

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.

Key opinion leaders (KOLs) provide key takeaways on metastatic breast cancer and early breast cancer, emphasizing the enthusiasm surrounding recent advances in the field and the potential for improved patient outcomes.

Rose DiMarco, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, shares insights into the evolving treatment landscape for patients with breast cancer with specific mutations.

The panelists share their concluding thoughts on the importance of collaboration between academic and community practices to achieve the best outcomes for their patients, which includes seeking second opinions and incorporating insights from tumor board discussions.

Medical experts discuss their perspectives on therapy approval and the significance of formulary inclusion, emphasizing the need to carefully consider both toxicities and benefits, which may ultimately lead to the operationalization of a drug in clinical practice.

Key opinion leaders (KOLs) discuss the use of CDK4/6 inhibitors in early breast cancer, specifically in patients who have undergone chemotherapy and surgery. They highlight the key factors that help determine which patients are most likely to benefit from receiving these medications.

The panelists discuss the clinical and economic factors that influence treatment decisions for early breast cancer (eBC), as well as the differences between eBC and metastatic breast cancer (mBC) in terms of adverse event management protocols and strategies for optimizing patient adherence.

Heather Moore, BCOP, CPP, PharmD, discusses the importance of treatment for early breast cancer, highlighting the use of chemotherapy followed by endocrine therapy. She notes that CDK4/6 inhibitors are being added for higher-risk patients, and oral selective estrogen receptor degraders may also be used in advanced cases.

Frank Scimeca, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, discusses the crucial collaborative effort between academic and community practices in managing and monitoring patients receiving CDK4/6 inhibitors, emphasizing the importance of communication and coordination to ensure optimal patient care.

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

Heather Moore, BCOP, CPP, PharmD, discusses switching from CDK4/6 inhibitors to later lines of therapy, typically due to toxicities, to alleviate symptoms. She emphasizes the goal of finding a new therapy rather than abandoning treatment altogether, and notes that targeted therapy may be necessary in cases of disease progression.

Frank Scimeca, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, discusses strategies for implementing cost-saving measures and utilizing patient assistance programs to help patients access therapy, while emphasizing the importance of mitigating financial toxicities for patients.

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.