Toxicity of breast cancer treatment can be a marker of its success (ATAC trial)

[Guest guest]

> Toxicity of breast cancer treatment can be a marker of its success (ATAC

> trial)

> http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-10/l-tob102808.php

>

> The occurrence of hot flushes, cold and night sweats (vasomotor symptoms),

> and joint symptoms in breast cancer patients receiving endocrine treatment can

> indicate a reduced chance of cancer recurrence and thus act as a marker for

> treatment success. These are the conclusions of an Article published early

> Online and in the December edition of The Lancet Oncology, written by

Professor

> Jack Cuzick, Cancer Research UK and Queen School of Medicine and

> Dentistry, London, UK, and colleagues.

>

> During endocrine treatment for breast cancer, the occurrence of the above

> symptoms, related to estrogen depletion or estrogen blockage, could indicate

> success of the treatment. In this study, women with hormone-receptor-positive

> tumors who reported these symptoms at the first follow-up visit in the ATAC*

> trial (which assessed tamoxifen or anastrozole for adjuvant therapy of

> post-menopausal breast cancer) were compared with women without these symptoms

to

> see if there was a relationship between the symptoms and recurrence.

>

> The researchers found that 37.5% of eligible women reported newly emergent

> vasomotor symptoms at the 3-month follow-up visit. These women had lower

> recurrence than those who did not report new vasomotor symptoms, with the

9-year

> recurrence rate reduced from 23% in women without symptoms to 18% in those

> with them. A greater decrease in breast cancer recurrence was seen for the

31.4%

> of eligible women who reported new joint symptoms at the 3-month follow-up

> visit compared with women not reporting these symptoms & shy; from 23% to 14%.

> These differences were seen with both tamoxifen and anastrozole; patients

> receiving anastrozole had lower recurrence rates than those receiving

> tamoxifen, both among women with and without symptoms

>

> The authors conclude: " The appearance of new vasomotor symptoms or joint

> symptoms within the first 3 months is a useful biomarker, suggesting a greater

> response to endocrine treatment compared with women without these symptoms.

> Awareness of the relation between early treatment-emergent symptoms and

> beneficial response to therapy might be useful when reassuring patients who

present

> with them, and might help to improve long-term treatment adherence when

> symptoms cannot be alleviated. "

>

> ###

>

> For Professor Jack Cuzick, Cancer Research UK and Queen School of

> Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK, please contact Sally Staples T) +44 (0) 20

> 7061 6300 E) jack.cuzick@... / Sally.Staples@...

> For full Article, see: http://press.thelancet.com/tlotoxicityfinal.pdf

> Please note this is a LANCET ONCOLOGY study, please credit it correctly

>

>

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>

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> SATURDAY, November 8 8am-5pm

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> Information: Shelmandine, Direct Services Coordinator, 331-5300

>

>

>

> FROM 1-2:30pm-- Women's CARES: Breast, Gynecological, and Sexual Health for

> Lesbians and Bisexual. educational discussion about cancer and disease

> prevention in this population, options, research needs and support for

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>

> Presenters:

> -Hope Nemiroff, Executive Director, Breast Cancer Options,

> an organization of survivors and their supporters [whose] mission is to

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informed

> patient public awareness regarding cancer risk reduction " .

> - Urech, LMSW, Director of the Oncology Support Program at Benedictine

> part of the new Health Alliance, the Oncology Support Program offers many

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> Alisha Decker and Petit, HIV/Sexual Health Education Professionals,

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> KINGSTON: Holiday Inn

>

>

>

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