Breast cancer research and treatment
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Oct 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyAdjuvant goserelin and ovarian preservation in chemotherapy treated patients with early breast cancer: results from a randomized trial.
The purpose of this randomized study was to examine if goserelin concomitant to CMF-chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment for premenopausal breast cancer, protects the ovaries from premature failure. A total of 285 premenopausal breast cancer patients, in a randomized adjuvant trial (Zoladex in premenopausal patients (ZIPP)), were assigned to a study on ovarian function. Node positive patients were assigned to CMF-(cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil) chemotherapy in addition to endocrine therapy. ⋯ Among women treated with goserelin, there was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of menstruating women, 1 year after completed treatment compared to at 24 months of treatment (P = 0.006), in contrast to all other treatment groups, who were unchanged or more often amenorrheic. In our study, there is some evidence of protective effect of goserelin on ovarian function in CMF treated women. This effect was not observed in the combined tamoxifen and goserelin treatment.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jul 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialGene expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and microtubule-associated protein Tau in high-risk early breast cancer: a quest for molecular predictors of treatment benefit in the context of a Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group trial.
Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) protein expression carry weak prognostic and moderate predictive utility for the outcome of early breast cancer patients on adjuvant chemohormonotherapy. We sought to study the predictive significance and correlations of transcriptional profiling of the ER, PgR and microtubule-associated protein Tau (MAP-Tau) genes in early breast cancer. ⋯ ER gene transcription carries weak predictive significance for benefit from endocrine therapy or for outcome, with no apparent dose-response association. The predictive significance is possibly exerted via MAP-Tau gene expression, an ER-inducible tubulin modulator with strong predictive significance for patient outcome. However, MAP-Tau mRNA did not predict benefit from the addition of a taxane to adjuvant chemotherapy. Further study of the biologic function and utility of MAP-Tau for individualising adjuvant therapy is warranted.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jun 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyDetection and relevance of germline genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) in breast cancer patients from northern Indian population.
Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are polymorphic superfamily of detoxification enzymes that detoxify therapeutic drugs and various carcinogens. We undertook a case-control study in northern Indian population based sample consisting of 413 patients and 410 controls to evaluate association of null genotype in GSTM1 and GSTT1 along with polymorphism in GSTP1 (A-->G) with breast cancer risk. ⋯ The findings of this study are in line with previously published reports that show an overall association with GSTM1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms with breast cancer risk. Our results suggest that the variants in low penetrance genes such as GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 are associated with an increased breast cancer risk thereby suggesting their contribution in the etiology of breast cancer.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Feb 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA randomized study of aprepitant, ondansetron and dexamethasone for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in Chinese breast cancer patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.
This is a single center, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study to evaluate the NK(1)-receptor antagonist, aprepitant, in Chinese breast cancer patients. The primary objective was to compare the efficacy of aprepitant-based antiemetic regimen and standard antiemetic regimen for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients who received moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. The secondary objective was to compare the patient-reported quality of life in these two groups of patients. ⋯ The aprepitant regimen appears to reduce the requirement of rescue medication when compared with the control regimen for prevention of CINV in patients receiving both an anthracycline and cyclophosphamide, and is associated with a better quality of life during adjuvant AC chemotherapy.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Dec 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialA phase III randomized comparison of lapatinib plus capecitabine versus capecitabine alone in women with advanced breast cancer that has progressed on trastuzumab: updated efficacy and biomarker analyses.
Lapatinib is a small molecule, dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2). Initial results of a phase III trial demonstrated that lapatinib plus capecitabine is superior to capecitabine alone in women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that progressed following prior therapy including trastuzumab. Updated efficacy and initial biomarker results from this trial are reported. ⋯ The addition of lapatinib to capecitabine provides superior efficacy for women with HER2-positive, advanced breast cancer progressing after treatment with anthracycline-, taxane-, and trastuzumab-based therapy. Biomarker studies could not identify a subgroup of patients who failed to benefit from the addition of lapatinib to capecitabine.