'Fertilizing' bone marrow helps answer why some cancers spread to bones

May 15, 2012

By Laura Bailey, University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Mich: Researchers found that administering a common chemotherapy drug before bone tumors took root actually fertilized the bone marrow, enabling cancer cells, once introduced, to seed and grow more easily.

HER2-targeting affibody bests FDG for imaging pulmonary metastases

May 14, 2012

By Health Imaging, from Journal of Nuclear Medicine

An affibody which targets human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-expressing breast cancer lesions has been shown to allow early detection of HER2-positive pulmonary metastases and with more specificity than 18F-FDG, according to a study published online May 11 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Research Center to Focus on Cancer Genes

May 9, 2012

By Denise Grady, New York Times

Couple gives $25 million to University of Pennsylvania, Basser Research Center for research, counseling, cancer prevention and treatment for people with BRCA mutations.

Online study of Avastin breast cancer patients

May 8, 2012

By Victoria Colliver, SFGate online

South San Francisco's Genentech has teamed up with personal genetics company 23andMe for a new kind of study - one that doesn't require patients to find a clinical trial center or make frequent visits to a doctor's office.

Scientists Identify 10 Molecular Types of Breast Cancer -- How Long Until Progress Reaches the Clinic?

May 5, 2012

By Dr. Elaine Schattner, Huffington Post

Dr. Elaine Schattner prods researchers to use the 10 new molecular types as a basis for smarter therapies.

Sorafenib Combo Ups PFS but Toxicity Is High

May 2, 2012

By Charles Bankhead, MedPage Today

Women with advanced breast cancer had 2-month improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) when the targeted drug sorafenib was added to chemotherapy, but toxicity levels were high, results of a placebo-controlled trial showed.

Interrupting Cancer's Travel Plans

April 30, 2012

By Stephen Ornes, Cancer Today

Randy Watnickʼs pursuit of a better drug against metastatic cancer began late at night in early 2005. His infant daughter had woken up in tears at their home in Newton, Mass., near Boston. The molecular biologist climbed out of bed, scooped up the sobbing baby, and helped her get back to sleep. Normally able to maintain a healthy distance between work and family, Watnick was unable to fend off thoughts about tumor biology.

For individuals with metastatic disease, when hope arrives, it arrives in “these very tiny increments,” says Suzanne Hebert, the vice president of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network, an organization that strives to raise awareness of metastatic patients’ needs. In 2004, Hebert was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. She says she’s “guarded” when she hears news about new treatments for metastatic disease.

FaceBook Adds Circle of Support For Metastatic Breast Cancer

April 30, 2012

By Pam Stephan, About.com Guide

FaceBook, the social media site, is hosting a new app called MBC Circle of Support. MBC in this case, stands for Metastatic Breast Cancer, and the app creates an online support community within FaceBook for metastatic patients. Genentech, a drug company that produces several cancer drugs, reports that research shows that most metastatic breast cancer patients feel left out of the annual Pink Ribbon cheeriness and Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities because their prognosis is much more serious.

Local mom dying of breast cancer gets investigational drug and first dose of Pertuzumab

April 27, 2012

By Linda Hurtado, ABC Action News, Tampa

TAMPA - Darlene Gant arrived at Moffitt Cancer Center with hope in her heart.  The dying cancer patient had a smile on her face because a little bag of hope has finally arrived.   

Pertuzumab is an investigational drug -- not yet approved by the FDA -- that has shown promise in treating Darlene's HER2 positive breast cancer.

A Pink Rethink: Breast-Cancer Spending Comes Under the Microscope

April 26, 2012

By Abigail Pesta, The Daily Beast

The Susan G. Komen flap has put breast cancer in the spotlight, reigniting a key debate in the health community about spending: Is too much money going to mammograms?

When it comes to ending breast cancer, Fran Visco doesn't think pink ribbons and mammograms will get the job done.