New therapies for metastatic, ER-positive cancers?

Page last modified on: January 4, 2010

Question from enjoyful: Are there any promising, new therapies for metastatic, ER+ cancers?: Answer —Kathy Miller, M.D.: There was no specifically new hormonal therapy, but there was important information about fulvestrant or Faslodex. This medication has typically been given as an injection in the muscle once a month and has been effective in women with ER+ metastatic disease. We learned this year that using slightly higher doses of this drug makes it more effective, but does not increase the side effects. There was also an important study looking at combining fulvestrant with an aromatase inhibitor such as Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole). In that study, the combination was not more effective than using the drugs by themselves. So while there wasn't a new therapy specifically for women with ER+ disease, we did learn important information about how to use these existing therapies more effectively.

On Tuesday, December 15, 2009, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Kathy Miller, M.D. and Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. answered your questions about the latest updates on breast cancer risk, screening techniques, treatment options, 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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Meet the Experts

Kathy D. Miller, M.D. is associate professor of medical oncology at Indiana University, and a Sheila D. Ward Scholar.

Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon and clinical instructor at the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Surgery in Philadelphia, PA. She also maintains a practice in Cherry Hill, N.J. Dr. Brill is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In addition, she has published breast cancer research in medical journals such as Annals of Plastic Surgery and Cancer, and she has presented research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.