Research News on Targeted Therapies
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Avastin Doesn’t Affect Overall Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Two studies suggest that treating metastatic breast cancer with Avastin and chemotherapy slightly increases the length of time women live without the cancer growing, but doesn't affect overall survival.
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Timing of Herceptin Influences Risk of Recurrence
Research suggests that giving Herceptin at the same time as chemotherapy, rather than after chemotherapy is done, can reduce the risk of recurrence of HER2-positive, early-stage breast cancer.
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New Targeted Therapies Studied
Several small studies offer mixed results on the targeted therapies Nexavar, Sutent, and motesanib as treatments for advanced-stage breast cancer.
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Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells May Help Lower Recurrence Risk
A very preliminary study found that gamma secretase inhibitors, a new type of targeted therapy medicine, may weaken or destroy breast cancer stem cells.
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Experimental Targeted Therapy Makes Chemotherapy Work Better
A small study found that BSI-201, an experimental targeted therapy medicine, makes chemotherapy work better against aggressive forms of breast cancer.
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Denosumab Slightly Better Than Zometa at Easing Bone Pain, Complications of Metastatic Breast Cancer
Denosumab, an experimental targeted therapy medicine, seems to be a little better than Zometa at preventing bone pain and slowing bone complications from breast cancer that has spread to the bones.
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Even Small HER2-Positive Cancers Have Higher Recurrence Risk
Small (1 cm or smaller), early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancers are more likely to come back (recur) and spread to parts of the body away from the breast (metastasize) than small, early-stage HER2-negative breast cancers, which suggests that treating these cancers with Herceptin (chemical name: trastuzumab) may make sense.
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Even Small HER2-Positive Cancers Have Higher Recurrence Risk
Small (1 cm or smaller), early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancers are more likely to come back (recur) and spread to parts of the body away from the breast (metastasize) than small, early-stage HER2-negative breast cancers, which suggests that treating these cancers with Herceptin (chemical name: trastuzumab) may make sense.
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Herceptin Helps Treat Early-Stage, HER2-Positive Cancers
New research shows that Herceptin (chemical name: trastuzumab) offers benefits to women diagnosed with HER2-positive, early-stage breast cancer with a low risk of recurrence.
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Experimental Olaparib May Help Treat People with Abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 Gene
Most people with an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene being treated for advanced stage breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer got some benefit from olaparib, an experimental targeted therapy.
