Classification of 101 BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants of uncertain significance by cosegregation study: A powerful approach.

Up to 80% of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic variants remain of uncertain clinical significance (VUSs). Only variants classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic can guide breast and ovarian cancer prevention measures and treatment by PARP inhibitors. We report the first results of the ongoing French national COVAR (cosegregation variant) study, the aim of which is to classify BRCA1/2 VUSs.

Adherence and patients' attitudes to oral anticancer drugs: a prospective series of 201 patients focusing on targeted therapies.

Objectives: Patient adherence is a challenge in oncology and hematology practice. Hormone therapy data in breast cancer suggest insufficient adherence and poor persistence. Limited data are available for targeted therapies (TT) including tyrosine kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors.

Pertuzumab: development beyond breast cancer.

Pertuzumab (Perjeta®) represents the first monoclonal antibody in a new class of agents known as dimerization inhibitors. Pertuzumab was recently approved for the treatment of Human Epidermal Receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer in the metastatic and neo-adjuvant setting. This approval for first-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer was based on the results of a large randomized multicenter phase III trial showing a significant improvement in overall survival when pertuzumab was combined with trastuzumab and docetaxel in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.