Mayo Clinic experts emphasize progress this year

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Life-saving cancer treatments can cause serious side effects, both immediately and later in life. “It is essential to continue research on innovative approaches that will eliminate the disease but will not reduce the quality of life of patients diagnosed with cancer,” he says. Roberto Leon-Ferre, MDbreast oncologist at Mayo Clinic. As the incidence of breast cancer increases among younger people, the need for treatments that provide excellent results with fewer side effects continues to increase.

Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Experts highlight breast cancer research that may reduce or eliminate the need for chemotherapy and hormone treatments and may allow for shorter and less intense courses of radiation therapy.

A prognostic biomarker identified in triple-negative breast cancer: potential to reduce chemotherapy use

Dr. Leon-Ferre’s research team Lately identified a prognostic biomarker in patients diagnosed triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)a type of breast cancer that does not have estrogen or progesterone receptors and does not overexpress HER2. Researchers have found that patients with high levels of naturally existing immune cells, called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), in their tumors may have a lower risk of cancer coming back and a better survival rate, even when no chemotherapy is used.

“This is an important finding because triple-negative breast cancer is a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer that does not respond to hormonal therapies or drugs that target the HER2 protein,” says Dr. Leon-Ferre. “This means that treatment options are more limited, often more intensive and more difficult for patients. However, some TNBC patients can be cured without chemotherapy, and the key is to identify who these patients are in advance.” He adds that future research will examine whether TILs can be used to determine who may or may not need chemotherapy after a diagnosis of TNBC.

The study examines the need for chemotherapy in premenopausal women with intermediate-risk breast cancer

In a separate ongoing lawsuit Bow. Tufia Haddadbreast oncologist at Mayo Clinic, is co-chair of the… test comparison of two treatment regimens for premenopausal women with intermediate-risk breast cancer: one group with chemotherapy combined with ovarian suppression and hormonal therapy and the other group without chemotherapy but with ovarian suppression and hormonal therapy. The study aims to determine whether the benefits of chemotherapy are due to its ability to suppress ovarian function (thus reducing estrogen production) or to its direct action in fighting cancer. “The results may determine whether chemotherapy is necessary or whether ovarian suppression and hormone therapy is sufficient in this group of patients, sparing them from the side effects of chemotherapy,” Dr. Haddad says.

Endoxifen: An effective therapy for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer studied by Mayo Clinic

Matthew Goetz, MDbreast oncologist and director of the Hospital Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE)and Erivan K. Haub Family Cancer Research Professor, in honor of Dr. Richard F. Emslander, spent more than a decade researching the use of endoxifen in the treatment of patients with estrogen receptor-positive (estrogen receptor-positive) or ER+ breast cancer, the most common breast cancer subtype.

Endoxifen, the most potent byproduct of tamoxifen, stops the growth of estrogen-dependent cancer cells and blocks protein kinase C, which may contribute to the aggressiveness of some cancers. Premenopausal patients with ER+ breast cancer are treated with ovarian suppression and aromatase inhibitors to lower estrogen levels and slow tumor growth. Although effective, this regimen has significant side effects of profound estrogen suppression. Dr. Goetz Study funded by SPORE is investigating whether endoxifen alone can eliminate cancer cells, potentially eliminating the need for more toxic treatments such as chemotherapy. She is also investigating the role of protein kinase C in ER+ breast cancer.

The Mayo clinical trial showed that shorter and less intense radiation therapy is effective for patients with breast cancer

Radiation therapy can be an important part of your breast cancer treatment plan; however, it may lead to changes in the appearance of the skin, swelling, pain and other complications. These side effects may have an adverse effect on the patient’s quality of life. In recent testBreast cancer researchers at Mayo Clinic have found that they can safely reduce the intensity and shorten the duration of radiation therapy to three days in selected breast cancer patients after tumor resection.

“This treatment usually lasts five to 15 days and can sometimes cause unwanted side effects, including changes in the appearance of the breasts. However, with this new method, the lower dose of radiation takes just three sessions using photons, protons or brachytherapy,” he says Robert Mutter, M.DMayo Clinic radiation oncologist and lead author of the study. “The new personalized approach was well tolerated by patients and resulted in excellent cancer control and better long-term aesthetic outcomes compared to previous reports of longer-term therapies.”

Collectively, this research is leading to innovative approaches and helping clinicians and patients make informed treatment decisions, potentially protecting patients from some of the more serious side effects of chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiation therapy.

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About Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center
Designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Centerdefines the future of cancer centers, focused on providing the world’s most exceptional, patient-centered cancer care to everyone. At Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, a culture of innovation and collaboration drives groundbreaking, life-changing research in cancer detection, prevention and treatment.

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