MEK inhibitor/Taxane combination active in triple-negative breast cancer

A small clinical trial demonstrated encouraging clinical activity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treated with a MEK inhibitor and a taxane. The combination of cobimetinib (Cotellic) and paclitaxel led to confirmed partial responses in 6 of 16 patients and 2 additional unconfirmed partial responses. Five of the 6 confirmed responses proved to be durable, persisting for about 20 weeks. “This is the first study to evaluate the combination of cobimetinib and paclitaxel in triple-negative breast cancer,” Adam M. Brufsky, MD, PhD, associate chief of hematology oncology, and co-director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and colleagues concluded in a presentation at the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. “The safety profile of combined cobimetinib and paclitaxel is manageable and consistent with the known safety profiles for each drug.

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SABCS 2016: Menopausal symptoms affect adherence with Tamoxifen but also with placebo

Although menopausal symptoms play a role in adherence to tamoxifen, the strength of the association between menopausal symptoms and adherence was similar in women assigned to placebo and those assigned to tamoxifen during a large, placebo-controlled trial by investigators from the United Kingdom and Australia.

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Strength training may prevent side effect of breast cancer surgery

New research conducted at Florida State University in Tallahassee suggests that strength training may be beneficial for breast cancer survivors who have had surgery.  The study, conducted on 27 breast cancer survivors who underwent supervised moderate-intensity strength workouts shows that "weightlifting appeared to help prevent swelling in the arms and chest, a common side effect of breast cancer treatment."

To read more about this study, click here.

Therapeutic vaccine promising for leukemia

New research arising from the Cancer Vaccine Program at the Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center in Boston  indicates that an anti-cancer vaccine derived from an acute myeloid leukemia patient's cells significantly increases the chance of long-term survival.

According to senior researcher Dr. David Avigan, "the vaccine has produced long-term remission for 70% of a small group of vaccinated patients with an average age of 63."

To read more about this study, click here.

Cancer survivors at increased risk of severe heart attack

A new study conducted at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota indicates that cancer survivors are at increased risk of suffering a severe heart attack.  According to cardiologist and study senior author Dr. Joerg Herrmann, the study, conducted on 2,300 heart attack patients found that 10% were cancer survivors.  While not all of these heart attacks were fatal, a correlation was indicated, as "patients with a history of cancer were more likely to arrive at the hospital with cardiogenic shock, where the heart suddenly can't pump enough blood,"

To read more about this study, click here.