mouse model of Patient's MBC shows interesting similarity

http://www.sciencenewsline.com/summary/2013091923340031.html


This article goes over current TNBC treatment.   It offer hopes without the reality check that the so called "double"ed PFS probably means a few additional months.    Complete pathological response as experienced by this patient featured remains a "miracle", not the expected.
http://www.curetoday.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/article.show/id/2/article_id/2157

Perjeta approved Neoadjuvant use

http://www.onclive.com/web-exclusives/In-Historic-Vote-on-Pertuzumab-ODAC-Suggests-Approval-of-First-Neoadjuvant-Regimen-for-Cancer

Despite my reservation for adjuvant drug research, neoadjuvant regimen is a different thing and much more exciting development to watch, and has the potential to revolutionalize and speed up cancer research.


http://www.cancernetwork.com/conference-reports/asco2013/breast-cancer-symposium/content/article/10165/2157691

How a neoadjuvant studies shows that biomarkers changed during the course of early breast cancer therapy.


http://www.inspire.com/groups/advanced-breast-cancer/discussion/long-interesting-clinical-trials/

Someone on inspire posted a lot of interesting clinical trials collated list.

Entinostat breakthrough status

http://www.onclive.com/web-exclusives/Breakthrough-Designation-Granted-to-Entinostat-for-Advanced-Breast-Cancer

Quote:
In a March 2012 follow-up analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the median PFS was 4.3 months versus 2.3 months, for entinostat and placebo, respectively (HR = 0.73; P = 0.06). In patients resistant to NSAIs (n = 45), the median PFS was 3.72 months compared to 1.78 months, in favor of the combination (HR = 0.47). - 

The median overall survival in the combination arm was 28.1 months compared to 19.8 months in the exemestane arm (HR = 0.59; P = 0.036). In a subset of patients (n = 49) with increased protein acetylation, the median PFS with the combination was 8.5 months compared with 2.8 months for patients without acetylation (HR = 0.32). 


My comment: Results are not terribly impressive.  But if this could be comboed with other targetted drug then this could be good.   

The key is the test for "protein acetylation"  (49/130).   The other patients might not have benefitted at all.   While the patients with increased protein acetylation (49/130)  seem to benefit at a much higher rate.



In other news:   Breast Cancer Index (BCI) Gene fingerprint identifies subset of HR+ EBC women at risk for 5+yr recurrence.   Lancet Oncology:
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/researchers-focus-on-likelihood-of-breast-cancer-recurrence-1.6056863

RealTime imaging of brain tumor using SRS

http://www.medicaldaily.com/new-laser-based-scalpel-may-revolutionize-brain-cancer-surgery-255492

Interesting article of metastatic cancer

http://www.onclive.com/publications/obtn/2013/August-2013/Developments-in-Metastatic-Cancer

NBCC deadline 2020

NBCC has a deadline 2020 project that seeks to end breast cancer by 2020.   They are currently fund raising with 2:1 matching, so you triple your gift match with donation until 9/30/2013.

I'm reading up on their progress report:
I like the fact that NBCC put a deadline date for BC.    This is unlike other charities that just splashes pink year after year till the founders live to a cushy retirement, and generations of women get marched through the adjuvant BC revenue generation therapy and get decimated by the MBC.

http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/about-the-deadline/progress-reports/2012-progress-report.html

They fund a project called artemis that tries to end breast cancer by preventing metastatic breast cancer(MBC), it's another way of saying they are going to end breast cancer by researching adjuvant BC treatment.   They say don't expect silver bullet (for curing MBC).

But I want to see them going out on a leg and putting up a X-prize for actually curing MBC.   I want the silver bullet.   HIV patients got silver bullets, diabetic patients got silver bullets, malaria folks got the silver bullets, some leukemia folks got the silver bullets.   MBC and other cancer folks need to expect silver bullets and ask for the silver bullet (or the silver bullets) and not be distracted by any other shiny toys.

No more new mammograms, MRIs, PETs, and other half-baked detection/prevention mechanisms.
No more expensive drugs by extending MBC survival by 1 month, 3 month, etc.
No more adjuvant repackaging and remarketing of ok/great MBC drug that does not cure MBC and spend billions and 10 years to find out that this adjuvant strategy may not work.
No more quakery.

We have a real chance of getting the cure by 2020.   But let's make sure of it.

Miltefosine an anti-fungal/anti-protozoa drug may work on cutaneous BC

Old drug, response rate not that great (30%) not for too long either.   but interesting.

xtandi is also being tested for androgen positive TNBC.