New research for triple-negative patients?
Meet the Experts
Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.
Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.
Question from SandyC: I was fortunate to be in attendance at the Symposium on Friday and Saturday and was inspired to find so many experts involved in seeking prevention and treatment options for breast cancer. However, I found no information about research or targeted treatment options and recurrence prevention for triple-negative survivors. Please give us some encouragement and information.
- Answer —Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: Triple-negative cancers are breast cancers that are negative for the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor, and HER2. Sometimes, you might see these cancers referred to as "basal" breast cancer. With all the attention given to hormonal therapy and HER2+ tumors, it can be extremely frustrating to have a triple-negative cancer. Just the name itself is off-putting. It's important to remember that the benefits of chemotherapy are greater in patients with hormone-receptor-negative tumors, compared to hormone-receptor-positive tumors. In addition, there is a great deal of attention being given to the genes (the genetic makeup) of these cancers. I would say that the medical literature regarding breast cancer in biomedical journals is actually focused quite heavily on this type of cancer. As we learn more about the things that go wrong to make these cancers develop, we're going to get even more focused and smarter about ways to interrupt and kill these cancers. Most of the advantages that we see with chemotherapy are, again, effective in the so-called "triple-negative" cancer.
On Wednesday, December 20, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2006. Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. and moderator Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about the newest research on breast cancer treatment, side effects, risk of recurrence, and more.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
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