While twisted remnants of tau protein have been seen in the brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, this is the first report that tau could play a role in tumor metastasis by changing the shape of cancer cells.

Although fulvestrant has been used to treat cancer since the late 1980s, and is now commonly prescribed as a second-line defense against metastatic cancer cells, how the drug works is still not completely understood.

Among the targeted agents, the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin), which is used in women with both metastatic and early-stage breast cancer, has probably received the most attention for its cardiotoxicit

The Side-Out Foundation, which pairs volleyball enthusiasts with breast cancer researchers, is sponsoring a new clinical trial for up to 25 patients with advanced breast cancer.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Hypnosis can help alleviate the pain and suffering experienced by women being treated for breast cancer, according to a study by a University at Buffalo School of Social Work professor

February 1, 2010 — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an expanded indication for lapatinib (Tykerb, GlaxoSmithKline) in combination with letrozole (Femara, Novartis AG) for the treatment of hormone-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women for whom hormonal therapy is indicated.

With the help of grant money, Lance Liotta and Emanuel Petricoin launched a clinical trial last week to study whether medical professionals can customize treatment for patients with metastatic breast cancer by looking at the protein pathways that vary inside each tumor.

HOUSTON — (February 12, 2010) — The master gene called SRC-3 (steroid receptor coactivator 3) not only enhances estrogen-dependent growth of cancer cells by activating and encouraging the transcription of a genetic message into a protein, it also sends a signal to the cell membrane to promote cell motility or movement – a key element of cancer spread or metastasis, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers and collaborators in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Molecular Cell.

The FDA has approved the use of the drug lapatinib (Tykerb) in combination with letrozole (Femara) to treat postmenopausal women with advanced HER2-positive and hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer.

SAN ANTONIO—The targeted combination of lapatinib (Tykerb) plus trastuzumab (Herceptin) led to a median overall survival of 14 months in women with refractory metastatic breast cancer, according to an updated analysis of the phase III EGF104900 trial