Latest biopsy approach for suspected metastases in patients with breast cancer.

Biopsy of suspected metastases in patients with breast cancer is recommended in the practice guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, but not always performed in routine oncology practice, often because of the cost and invasiveness of the procedure. Biopsies can confirm the presence of metastatic disease, reveal unsuspected benign disease or second (non-breast) malignancies and confirm expression of biomarkers, all of which can aid the optimal management of the cancer. Image-guided biopsy has increased the accuracy and safety of the procedure.

Clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features of microglandular adenosis and transition into in situ and invasive carcinoma.

Microglandular adenosis (MGA) of the breast is widely known as a benign lesion that can mimic invasive carcinoma. In situ and invasive carcinomas have been described as arising in MGA, but which cases of MGA will progress to carcinoma is unclear. Criteria for distinguishing uncomplicated MGA, MGA with atypia (AMGA), and carcinoma arising in MGA (MGACA) are not standardized.

Phase II study of tariquidar, a selective P-glycoprotein inhibitor, in patients with chemotherapy-resistant, advanced breast carcinoma.

Background: The primary objective of this study was to determine whether addition of the selective P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor tariquidar (XR9576) to chemotherapy could induce an objective tumor response in patients who previously were resistant to the same agents. The secondary objectives were to evaluate P-gp expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC), to determine functional activity of the P-gp transporter before and after administration of tariquidar with serial technetium-99m ((99m)Tc)-sestamibi scans, and to correlate those parameters with clinical response.

Methods: Seventeen women with Stage III-IV breast carcinoma were included in the study who progressed (n = 13 women) or had stable disease (n = 4 women) on doxorubicin-containing or taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens.

Development of pharmacogenomic markers to select preoperative chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Individualized selection of the most effective adjuvant (or neoadjuvant) chemotherapy for breast cancer based on the molecular characteristics of the tumor could improve the risk:benefit ratio of current therapies. It could also streamline the development of new regimens for those who are unlikely to benefit from existing drugs. It is expected that combinations of markers will be more informative to predict response than any single gene and may yield regimen-specific predictors.