Clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes in adult patients with germline -mutated, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer: a retrospective medical record review in the United States.

Aim: To examine clinical characteristics, real-world treatment patterns, and health outcomes among patients with germline -mutated, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer (ABC).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using medical records from patients with HER2-negative ABC with mutation who received cytotoxic chemotherapy. Data were stratified into groups with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) or hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2-negative diagnoses.

What Proportion of BRCA-Associated Breast Cancer Is Human Epidermal Growth Factor 2-Low and Eligible for Additional Targeted Therapy?

Introduction: DESTINY B04 provided clinical meaning to a new classification of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) expression in breast cancer: HER2-low. Patients with germline breast cancer type 1 gene pathogenic variants (gBRCA1) often develop triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), but the proportion who could be classified as HER2-low and qualify for an additional targeted therapy option is unknown. This study aims to characterize the proportion of gBRCA1 or germline breast cancer type 2 gene pathogenic variants patients for whom these novel targeted therapies may be an option.

A phase 1 study of nivolumab in combination with interferon-gamma for patients with advanced solid tumors.

This phase I, dose-escalation trial evaluates the safety of combining interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and nivolumab in patients with metastatic solid tumors. Twenty-six patients are treated in four cohorts assessing increasing doses of IFN-γ with nivolumab to evaluate the primary endpoint of safety and determine the recommended phase two dose (RP2D). Most common adverse events are low grade and associated with IFN-γ.

Genetic Variants and Tumor Immune Microenvironment: Clues for Targeted Therapies in Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC).

To better understand the etiology of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and identify potential therapies, we studied genomic alterations in IBC patients. Targeted, next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) ( = 33) and paired DNA from tumor tissues ( = 29) from 32 IBC patients. We confirmed complementarity between cfDNA and tumor tissue genetic profiles.

Genetic Contribution to Metastatic Prostate Cancer.

Recent studies show that the prevalence of germline pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants (also known as mutations) in DNA repair genes in metastatic prostate cancer is higher than previously recognized and higher than in unaffected men. Specific gene dysfunction is important in prostate cancer initiation and/or evolution to metastases. This article reviews key literature on individual genes, recognizing BRCA2 as the gene most commonly altered in the metastatic setting.

Physical activity assessment among men undergoing genetic counseling for inherited prostate cancer: a teachable moment for improved survivorship.

Background: Genetic counseling (GC) presents an opportunity to address modifiable cancer risk factors, such as obesity, which is impacted by non-adherence to physical activity (PA) guidelines. Adherence to PA guidelines has not been assessed among men undergoing GC for prostate cancer (PCA). We conducted a targeted analysis of men undergoing PCA GC to assess adherence to PA recommendations.

The effect of neighborhood social environment on prostate cancer development in black and white men at high risk for prostate cancer.

Introduction: Neighborhood socioeconomic (nSES) factors have been implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) disparities. In line with the Precision Medicine Initiative that suggests clinical and socioenvironmental factors can impact PCa outcomes, we determined whether nSES variables are associated with time to PCa diagnosis and could inform PCa clinical risk assessment.

Materials And Methods: The study sample included 358 high risk men (PCa family history and/or Black race), aged 35-69 years, enrolled in an early detection program.

Treatment times in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant vs adjuvant chemotherapy: Is efficiency a benefit of preoperative chemotherapy?

Background/objective: Delays in times to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy impair survival in breast cancer patients. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) confers equivalent survival to adjuvant chemotherapy (AC), but it remains unknown which approach facilitates faster initiation and completion of treatment.

Methods: Women ≥18 years old with nonrecurrent, noninflammatory, clinical stage I-III breast cancer diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 who underwent both surgery and chemotherapy were reviewed from the National Cancer Database.

Genetic Variants Detected Using Cell-Free DNA from Blood and Tumor Samples in Patients with Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

We studied genomic alterations in 19 inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) patients with advanced disease using samples of tissue and paired blood serum or plasma (cell-free DNA, cfDNA) by targeted next generation sequencing (NGS). At diagnosis, the disease was triple negative (TN) in eleven patients (57.8%), ER+ Her2- IBC in six patients (31.

Time to Surgery and the Impact of Delay in the Non-Neoadjuvant Setting on Triple-Negative Breast Cancers and Other Phenotypes.

Background: Characterization of breast cancer phenotypes has improved our ability to predict breast cancer behavior. Triple-negative (TN) breast cancers have higher and earlier rates of distant events. It has been suggested that this behavior necessitates treating TNs faster than others, including use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) if time to surgery is not rapid.

Interim Results from the IMPACT Study: Evidence for Prostate-specific Antigen Screening in BRCA2 Mutation Carriers.

Background: Mutations in BRCA2 cause a higher risk of early-onset aggressive prostate cancer (PrCa). The IMPACT study is evaluating targeted PrCa screening using prostate-specific-antigen (PSA) in men with germline BRCA1/2 mutations.

Objective: To report the utility of PSA screening, PrCa incidence, positive predictive value of PSA, biopsy, and tumour characteristics after 3 yr of screening, by BRCA status.

Hematologic toxicity in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers during chemotherapy: A retrospective matched cohort study.

Women who inherit a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have an increased risk of breast cancer. Preliminary evidence suggests they may also have defects in bone marrow function. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a multicenter, retrospective, matched cohort study, comparing women with localized breast cancer requiring cytotoxic chemotherapy who carried an inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation to similar wild-type patients treated between 1995 and 2017 and matched based on age, race, site, and chemotherapy regimen.

Diet assessment among men undergoing genetic counseling and genetic testing for inherited prostate cancer: Exploring a teachable moment to support diet intervention.

Background: Genetic counseling (GC) and genetic testing (GT) for prostate cancer (PCA) is a rapidly growing, affording opportunity for healthy lifestyle promotion in men aligned with cancer survivorship and cancer prevention goals. We conducted a targeted dietary analysis of men undergoing GC/GT for PCA for adherence to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Pattern recommendations which align with preventing cancer and recurrences in the Genetic Evaluation of Men (GEM) study at two academic centers to inform future strategies for diet intervention.

Methods: Participants of GEM with PCA or at-risk for PCA completed a structured food frequency questionnaire indicating number of servings consumed per day or per week of fruits, vegetables, red meat, seafood, processed meat, and foods high in saturated fat.

Patterns of Care and Efficacy of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Skin-Involved Breast Cancers of All Sizes.

Background: The management of small skin-involved (SI) invasive breast cancers is controversial because although they are considered unresectable, their prognosis is far better than their stage III classification. This study was undertaken to determine how SI lesions are treated in the United States and to discern the benefit of systemic therapy.

Patients And Methods: Data of patients diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer in the National Cancer Data Base between 2004 and 2011 were reviewed.

Intensive Surveillance with Biannual Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Downstages Breast Cancer in Mutation Carriers.

Purpose: To establish a cohort of high-risk women undergoing intensive surveillance for breast cancer. We performed dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI every 6 months in conjunction with annual mammography (MG). Eligible participants had a cumulative lifetime breast cancer risk ≥20% and/or tested positive for a pathogenic mutation in a known breast cancer susceptibility gene.

Understanding of multigene test results among males undergoing germline testing for inherited prostate cancer: Implications for genetic counseling.

Background: Genetic testing (GT) for prostate cancer (PCA) is rising, with limited insights regarding genetic counseling (GC) needs of males. Genetic Evaluation of Men (GEM) is a prospective multigene testing study for inherited PCA. Men undergoing GC were surveyed on knowledge of cancer risk and genetics (CRG) and understanding of personal GT results to identify GC needs.

Racial Disparities in the Molecular Landscape of Cancer.

Background/aim: African Americans (AA) have the highest incidence and mortality of any racial/ethnic group in the US for most cancer types. Heterogeneity in the molecular biology of cancer, as a contributing factor to this disparity, is poorly understood. To address this gap in knowledge, we explored the molecular landscape of colorectal cancer (CRC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and high-grade glioma (HGG) from 271 AA and 636 Caucasian (CC) cases.

Prostate-specific antigen velocity in a prospective prostate cancer screening study of men with genetic predisposition.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2017.

Prostate-specific antigen velocity in a prospective prostate cancer screening study of men with genetic predisposition.

Background: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and PSA-velocity (PSAV) have been used to identify men at risk of prostate cancer (PrCa). The IMPACT study is evaluating PSA screening in men with a known genetic predisposition to PrCa due to BRCA1/2 mutations. This analysis evaluates the utility of PSA and PSAV for identifying PrCa and high-grade disease in this cohort.

Role of Genetic Testing for Inherited Prostate Cancer Risk: Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference 2017.

Purpose Guidelines are limited for genetic testing for prostate cancer (PCA). The goal of this conference was to develop an expert consensus-driven working framework for comprehensive genetic evaluation of inherited PCA in the multigene testing era addressing genetic counseling, testing, and genetically informed management. Methods An expert consensus conference was convened including key stakeholders to address genetic counseling and testing, PCA screening, and management informed by evidence review.

Effects of a randomized trial comparing standard and enhanced counseling for men at high risk of prostate cancer as a function of race and monitoring style.

Despite conflicting guidelines, a significant subset of high-risk men decide to undergo routine prostate cancer screening. Yet, there is a scarcity of available programs, and no studies evaluating interventions to support men in dealing with the psychosocial impact of screening. In this study, one of the first to explore the responses of high-risk men enrolling in a Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment Program ( N = 128), patients underwent a prostate cancer risk counseling visit immediately followed by either a cognitive-affective preparation session designed to help them process the information they received or a general health education session.

Inherited Mutations in Men Undergoing Multigene Panel Testing for Prostate Cancer: Emerging Implications for Personalized Prostate Cancer Genetic Evaluation.

Purpose: Multigene panels are commercially available for the evaluation of prostate cancer (PCA) predisposition, which necessitates tailored genetic counseling (GC) for men. Here we describe emerging results of Genetic Evaluation of Men, prospective multigene testing study in PCA to inform personalized genetic counseling, with emerging implications for referrals, cancer screening, and precision therapy.

Patients And Methods: Eligibility criteria for men affected by or at high risk for PCA encompass age, race, family history (FH), and PCA stage/grade.