Systemic therapy for early breast cancer in older adults: current status and prospects
Purpose of review
In this review, we describe the evidence on the efficacy and the safety of systemic treatments for the management of early breast cancer (EBC) in older individuals
Recent findings
Chemotherapy has a temporary impact on quality of life (QoL) for older EBC patients and improves survival outcomes for those with oestrogen receptor (ER)-negative disease. Benefits were seen also in the context of comorbidities, although these may be influenced by selection bias. The Cancer and Aging Research Group-Breast Cancer tool can predict the risk of severe toxicities on chemotherapy in older patients. Gene exp...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 23, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
Lifestyle and quality of life in patients with early-stage breast cancer receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy
Purpose of review
A comprehensive approach to survivorship care for women with early-stage, hormone-receptor positive breast cancer should systematically include the proactive assessment and adequate management of endocrine therapy-associated symptoms, in order to assure optimal balance between preserving quality of life (QOL) and maximizing treatment adherence. We reviewed the recent literature focused on lifestyle factors, including physical activity, diet and nutrition, weight management, smoke, and alcohol behavior, and their link with symptomatology and QOL among women receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy.
Rece...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 23, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
Postmastectomy radiotherapy: a review
Purpose of review
We review the role of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in the management of patients with early breast cancer.
Recent findings
PMRT in patients with 4 or more involved axillary lymph nodes is the current standard of care but the indications for PMRT in patients with 1–3 involved nodes remain controversial. The Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group meta-analysis of randomised trials of PMRT provides the most comprehensive level 1 evidence base. However, its applicability in contemporary practice in the context of recent multidisciplinary advances in surgery, radiation therapy ...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 23, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
Accelerating drug access from advanced to early breast cancer: the special case of oral selective estrogen receptor degraders
Purpose of review
For hormone receptor positive breast cancer, the development of endocrine resistance commonly occurs, presenting as either disease progression in the metastatic setting or recurrence during or following adjuvant endocrine therapy. Various mechanisms of resistance have been described. In order to reduce or overcome endocrine resistance, there has been substantial interest in developing potent and orally bioavailable selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) for metastatic disease and select patients with early-stage estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.
Recent findings
At least 11 oral S...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 23, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
Are advancements in screening technology contributing to breast cancer over-diagnosis?
Purpose of review
Advancements in breast screening technology have increased the sensitivity of screening and thereby increased the detection rates of nonlethal cancers. Thus, improvements in breast screening technology may contribute to ‘over-diagnosis’, which refers to detection of cancers that pose no threat to life and that, in the absence of screening, might never have been detected. The purpose of this review is to draw attention to risks of over-diagnosis and provide a rationale for evaluating screening clinical breast examination (CBE) as an alternative to modern technology-based (mammography) screening.
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Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 23, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Oncology)
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 23, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research
Bromodomain and extraterminal domain protein bromodomain inhibitor based cancer therapeutics
Purpose of review
Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins are evolutionarily conserved, multifunctional super-regulators that specifically recognize acetyl-lysine on histones and other proteins controlling gene transcription. Several studies show that small molecules targeting these regulators preferentially suppress the transcription of cancer-promoting genes. Consequently, several BET inhibitors reached clinical trials and are in various stages for different kind of malignancies. In this review, we provide a concise summary of the molecular basis and preliminary clinical outcomes of BET inhibitors as anti...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - August 27, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: INNOVATIVE AGENTS AND TREATMENT MODALITIES: Edited by Ahmad Awada and Steven T. Rosen Source Type: research
Targeting SUMOylation in cancer
Purpose of review
In the article, we focus on the role of SUMOylation in tumorigenesis and cancer-related processes, including Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis, resistance to cancer therapies, and antitumor immunity. Clinical perspective on small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) inhibitors will be discussed.
Recent findings
SUMOylation regulates multiple important biologic functions including gene transcription, DNA damage repair, cell cycle, and innate immunity. The SUMO pathway enzymes are usually elevated in various cancers and linked with cancer progression and poor clinical outcomes for p...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - August 27, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: INNOVATIVE AGENTS AND TREATMENT MODALITIES: Edited by Ahmad Awada and Steven T. Rosen Source Type: research
New horizons in early drugs development in solid cancers
Purpose of review
Drug development is the process of bringing new anticancer agents into clinical practice. From the basic research to clinical research each step is essential and intimately linked. The aim of this review is to describe emerging preclinical models and to provide an overview of selected drugs recently developed in oncology.
Recent findings
Preclinical models reproducing human immune-tumor interactions, 3D cell cultures and microfluidic platforms are of great interest for the development of immunotherapies and combination therapies and offer the opportunity to better understand the interplay betwe...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - August 27, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: INNOVATIVE AGENTS AND TREATMENT MODALITIES: Edited by Ahmad Awada and Steven T. Rosen Source Type: research
Challenges adopting next-generation sequencing in community oncology practice
This article, based on the authors’ experience in community oncology practice and summary of literature, describes these challenges so strategies can be developed to address these challenges to improve patient outcomes. (Source: Current Opinion in Oncology)
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - August 27, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: INNOVATIVE AGENTS AND TREATMENT MODALITIES: Edited by Ahmad Awada and Steven T. Rosen Source Type: research
Antibodies targeting Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen positive prostate cancer: from diagnostic imaging to theranostics
Purpose of review
Targeting Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) has paved the way for personalized medicine in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. This review aims to highlight the role of PSMA targeting antibodies in PCa, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Recent findings
PSMA Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography has been a game changer in the diagnosis of PCa in the recent decade. Two anti-PSMA monoclonal antibodies have been studied in PCa: 7E11-C35 (limited use) and J591. J591 antibody was used for diagnostic purposes coupled with different radionuclides. Most importantly, it was combined...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - August 27, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: INNOVATIVE AGENTS AND TREATMENT MODALITIES: Edited by Ahmad Awada and Steven T. Rosen Source Type: research
Targeted radionuclide therapy: an emerging field in solid tumours
Purpose of review
Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRNT) is characterized by systemic administration of radiolabelled drugs, targeting specific molecular alterations expressed on the tumour cells. Small molecules, labelled with β- or α- emitting radioisotopes, are used to deliver radiation directly to the tumour sites. Pretreatment imaging to visualize whole body biodistribution of the target, using the same drugs labelled with positron or γ-emitting radionuclides, completes the concept of theranostic. This review will briefly summarize the current clinical research findings and applications of TRNT in solid tumours, ...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - August 27, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: INNOVATIVE AGENTS AND TREATMENT MODALITIES: Edited by Ahmad Awada and Steven T. Rosen Source Type: research
New developments in rare vulvar and vaginal cancers
Purpose of review
To provide the latest insight on the rare vulvar and vaginal malignancies, able to impact on clinical practice, and to outline new potential research developments.
Recent findings
Many efforts are being made to produce technical and scientific advances in the fields of vulvar and vaginal carcinoma, including imaging work-up, interventional procedures and minimally invasive surgical approach, as well as molecular profiling and identification of new target treatments.
Summary
In the evaluation of lymph node status, ultrasound has demonstrated promising results because of high predictive va...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - August 27, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: GYNECOLOGIC CANCER: Edited by Frédéric Amant and Christianne Lok Source Type: research
Novel next-generation sequencing-based methodologies to characterize the mutational consequences of (prenatal) chemotherapy exposure in noncancerous tissue
Purpose of review
Although chemotherapeutics are considered as genotoxins for decades, their exact mutagenic impact on the genome of cancerous and normal cells of cancer patients was unknown for a long time. However, this knowledge is necessary to understand the long-term side effects of chemotherapy. A particular condition represents pregnant cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy. Since certain chemotherapeutics can cross the placenta, concerns exist about possible mutational effects on the fetus’ genome with potential long-term health consequences.
Recent findings
Recent advances of next-generation...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - August 27, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: GYNECOLOGIC CANCER: Edited by Frédéric Amant and Christianne Lok Source Type: research
New imaging modalities to distinguish rare uterine mesenchymal cancers from benign uterine lesions
Purpose of review
Uterine sarcomas are rare and are often challenging to differentiate on imaging from benign mimics, such as leiomyoma. As functional MRI techniques have improved and new adjuncts, such as machine learning and texture analysis, are now being investigated, it is helpful to be aware of the current literature on imaging features that may sometimes allow for preoperative distinction.
Recent findings
MRI, with both conventional and functional imaging, is the modality of choice for evaluating uterine mesenchymal tumors, especially in differentiating uterine leiomyosarcoma from leiomyoma through valida...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - August 27, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: GYNECOLOGIC CANCER: Edited by Frédéric Amant and Christianne Lok Source Type: research
