Newswise — ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Four new studies on the treatment of early breast cancer, spanning from diagnosis through surgery, were released today in advance of the 2012 Breast Cancer Symposium. The Symposium will take place September 13-15, 2012, at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis in San Francisco. Four major studies were highlighted in today’s presscast:
• A new device may reduce the need for follow-up surgeries after lumpectomy, helping preserve the cosmetic appearance of the breast: A large clinical trial determined that an investigational device that helps ensure sufficient tissue is removed during a lumpectomy, results in fewer additional surgeries, without the cost of having to remove larger amounts of tissue.
• Study refines risk of recurrence and death in patients with estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer that has spread to axillary lymph nodes: The study showed that a 21-gene recurrence score predicts favorable and unfavorable outcomes after chemotherapy and adjuvant hormonal therapy, which helps with tailoring the dose of adjuvant therapy and selecting patients who might benefit from novel therapies.
• Routine screening using liver ultrasound, bone scan, and chest X-ray is of little value for detection of breast cancer metastases: A comprehensive literature review found that the three radiological tests detect metastases very rarely, raising concerns about their continued use in routine screening, particularly for patients with early-stage breast cancer.
• Women with stage II breast cancer who are at high risk of residual nodal disease may benefit from axillary lymph node removal: Results of a study simulating axillary recurrence risk, lymphedema, and quality of life determined that women may want to consider axillary lymphnode removal if they are at high risk of residual nodal disease after breast conserving surgery and treatment with whole-breast radiation.
“Advances in precision medicine have lead to identifying the best course of treatment for each individual patient. The research presented today adds to this growing knowledge base by confirming which patient populations are most likely to benefit from screening interventions and surgical procedures,” said Andrew Seidman, MD, American Society of Clinical Oncology Cancer Communications Committee member. “These studies will help physicians feel more confident in their treatment decisions while maximizing thebenefits to patients.”
An estimated 226,870 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur in women in the United States, and another 2,190 cases are expected in U.S. men in 2012. An additional 63,300 cases of in situ (non-invasive) breast cancer are expected to occur in U.S. women as well, totaling more than 290,000 new cases.* This year’s Breast Cancer Symposium will include more than 200 abstracts and focus on taking the latest scientific results in the field and bringing them into the clinic for practical applications. Sessions will cover a range of topics such as risk assessment, detection and screening, survivorship and systemic therapy.
About the 2012 Breast Cancer SymposiumThe Symposium is co-sponsored by the American Society of Breast Disease, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the National Consortium of Breast Centers and the Society of Surgical Oncology. Click here to learn more about the co-sponsoring organizations.
Information for Media: www.asco.org/BCSpresskit
Relevant Links on ASCO’s Cancer.Net:
• Guide to Breast Cancer• Bone Scan – What to Expect• Ultrasound – What to Expect• Choosing Wisely®: Top Five Cancer-Related Tests, Procedures, and Treatments That Many Patients Do Not Need• Understanding Cancer Surgery• What to Know: ASCO’s Guideline on Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer• Understanding Radiation Therapy• What to Know: ASCO’s Guideline on Hormonal Therapy for Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer• Coping With Fear of Recurrence
Relevant Links on ASCO’s CancerProgress.Net Website:
To view the full release click this link:http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Department%20Content/Communications/Downloads/BCS%202012%20Research%20Release.pdf?et_cid=29999544&et_rid=463567184&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.asco.org%2fASCOv2%2fDepartment%2520Content%2fCommunications%2fDownloads%2fBCS%25202012%2520Research%2520Release.pdf
*Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2012. Atlanta, GA; American Cancer Society: 2012.
2012 Breast Cancer Symposium News Planning TeamSandhya Pruthi, MD, American Society of Breast Disease; Deanna J. Attai, MD, FACS, American Society of Breast Surgeons; Sylvia Adams, MD, and Andrew D. Seidman, MD, American Society of Clinical Oncology; Bruce G. Haffty, MD, American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO); Kristie A. Bobolis, MD, National Consortium of Breast Centers; Anees B. Chagpar, MD, MSc, MA, MPH, FACS, FRCS(C), MD, Society of SurgicalOncology.
ATTRIBUTION TO THE 2012 BREAST CANCER SYMPOSIUM IS REQUESTED IN ALL COVERAGE.
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