VIDEO: Advice varies for chemoprevention, genetic testing in invasive breast cancer

MIAMI – The message from major trials evaluating tamoxifen, raloxifene, and aromatase inhibitors for chemoprevention of invasive breast cancer got clearer with data from extended follow-up coming in. Interestingly, sometimes the longer duration studies confirm earlier findings, and sometimes they do not – and researchers end up reaching new conclusions, Dr. Banu Arun of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston explained at the annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference, held by Physicians’ Education Resource.

Although not everyone agrees, Dr. Arun said why she believes there is still a role for chemoprevention of invasive breast cancer. In cases where studies do not point to a clear-cut difference in survival outcomes between agents, she recommends physicians select therapy based on other risks, benefits, and other considerations.

Technology also presents a challenge. Advances in next generation sequencing, for example, allow physicians to order a test for up to 25 genetic mutations associated with breast cancer. Compared with earlier assays that only tested for well-known risk factors like BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, these panels can return results where the clinical implications remain uncertain, leaving doctors unclear on how to counsel patients.

Dr. Arun had no relevant financial disclosures.

MIAMI – The message from major trials evaluating tamoxifen, raloxifene, and aromatase inhibitors for chemoprevention of invasive breast cancer got clearer with data from extended follow-up coming in. Interestingly, sometimes the longer duration studies confirm earlier findings, and sometimes they do not – and researchers end up reaching new conclusions, Dr. Banu Arun of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston explained at the annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference, held by Physicians’ Education Resource.

Although not everyone agrees, Dr. Arun said why she believes there is still a role for chemoprevention of invasive breast cancer. In cases where studies do not point to a clear-cut difference in survival outcomes between agents, she recommends physicians select therapy based on other risks, benefits, and other considerations.

Technology also presents a challenge. Advances in next generation sequencing, for example, allow physicians to order a test for up to 25 genetic mutations associated with breast cancer. Compared with earlier assays that only tested for well-known risk factors like BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, these panels can return results where the clinical implications remain uncertain, leaving doctors unclear on how to counsel patients.

Dr. Arun had no relevant financial disclosures.

MIAMI – The message from major trials evaluating tamoxifen, raloxifene, and aromatase inhibitors for chemoprevention of invasive breast cancer got clearer with data from extended follow-up coming in. Interestingly, sometimes the longer duration studies confirm earlier findings, and sometimes they do not – and researchers end up reaching new conclusions, Dr. Banu Arun of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston explained at the annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference, held by Physicians’ Education Resource.

Although not everyone agrees, Dr. Arun said why she believes there is still a role for chemoprevention of invasive breast cancer. In cases where studies do not point to a clear-cut difference in survival outcomes between agents, she recommends physicians select therapy based on other risks, benefits, and other considerations.

Technology also presents a challenge. Advances in next generation sequencing, for example, allow physicians to order a test for up to 25 genetic mutations associated with breast cancer. Compared with earlier assays that only tested for well-known risk factors like BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, these panels can return results where the clinical implications remain uncertain, leaving doctors unclear on how to counsel patients.

Dr. Arun had no relevant financial disclosures.