Human epidermal growth factor receptor family-targeted therapies in the treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer.

Breast cancer characterized by overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) has been associated with more aggressive disease progression and a poorer prognosis. Although an improved understanding of breast cancer pathogenesis and the role of HER2 signaling has resulted in significant survival improvements in the past 20 years, resistance to HER2-targeted therapy remains a concern. A number of strategies to prevent or overcome resistance to HER2-targeted therapy in breast cancer are being evaluated.

Ovarian cancer: opportunity for targeted therapy.

Ovarian cancer is a common cause of cancer mortality in women with limited treatment effectiveness in advanced stages. The limitation to treatment is largely the result of high rates of cancer recurrence despite chemotherapy and eventual resistance to existing chemotherapeutic agents. The objective of this paper is to review current concepts of ovarian carcinogenesis.

Early breast and prostate cancer and clinical outcomes (fracture).

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass that is associated with increased risk of fracture. Nearly 40% of the 12 million cancer survivors in the United States were diagnosed with breast and prostate cancer. Therapy for these two diseases is not uncommonly associated with bone loss related to hormone-ablative therapy.

Differences in cause-specific mortality between Latino and white adults.

Background: Understanding differences in cause-specific mortality between Latinos and whites is important for targeting future public health interventions and research aimed at eliminating health disparities.

Objectives: We sought to determine the contribution of specific causes of death to Latino-white differences in mortality.

Research Design: Using nationally representative data, we estimated cause-specific mortality risks, which were then used in a simulation model to estimate mortality events for a cohort of persons starting at age 25 and followed until death or age 75.