Genentech asks for Avastin hearing

December 28, 2020

By San Francisco Business Times

Genentech Inc. filed a formal request Thursday with the Food and Drug Administration for a hearing on the agency's plan to rescind approval of the world’s best-selling cancer drug, Avastin, for women with metastatic breast cancer.

Denosumab superior to zoledronic acid in delaying first skeletal-related side effect in breast cancer patients

December 23, 2020

By Ken Krizner

A newly approved drug, denosumab (Xgeva, Amgen), delays skeletal-related side effects for 5 months longer compared to zoledronic acid (Zometa and Reclast, Novartis) in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases, according to phase 3 trial results presented at the 33rd Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

U.S., Europe differ on Avastin as a breast cancer treatment, creating confusion

December 20, 2020

By CARLY WEEKS, Globe and Mail Update

Contradictory decisions made in the United States and Europe last week about a drug used to treat breast cancer are creating controversy and confusion over whether patients should still have access to it.

FDA begins process to remove breast cancer indication from Avastin label

December 16, 2020

By FDA NEWS RELEASE

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that the agency is recommending removing the breast cancer indication from the label for Avastin (bevacizumab) because the drug has not been shown to be safe and effective for that use. The agency is making this recommendation after reviewing the results of four clinical studies of Avastin in women with breast cancer and determining that the data indicate that the drug does not prolong overall survival in breast cancer patients or provide a sufficient benefit in slowing disease progression to outweigh the significant risk to patients.

SABCS: Delay Chemo to Aid Wound Healing

December 14, 2020

By Ed Susman, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today

SAN ANTONIO -- Therapy for metastatic breast cancer that includes bevacizumab (Avastin) should be delayed at least seven days after venous access lines are implanted to prevent wound complications and promote healing, French researchers suggested here

Bevacizumab-Containing Therapy Beneficial for Triple-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer in Real-World Practice: Presented at SABC

December 14, 2020

By Ed Susman, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today

SAN ANTONIO, Tex -- December 14, 2020 -- Real-world clinical practice use of bevacizumab in combination with taxanes appears to provide similar benefits to those observed in randomised, controlled clinical trials, according to a study presented here at the 33rd annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). In a general practice setting -- the basis for the ATHENA trial -- researchers observed a median overall survival of 25.2 months among the 2,264 patients included in the study who were treated with bevacizumab and mainly taxane-containing regimens.

Ibandronate Beneficial For Patients with Breast Cancer and Bone Metastases in Many Ways

December 13, 2020

By Ria Patel

As per a recent study, Ibandronate could prove as an effective treatment for relieving pain and is also safe to use by patients with breast cancer with metastatic bone disease (MBD).

Circulating Tumor Cells: Useful Tool in Metastatic Breast Cancer?

December 13, 2020

By Zosia Chustecka

December 11, 2020 (San Antonio, Texas) — Measuring circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is a useful tool for managing patients with metastatic breast cancer, says one breast cancer expert, but another disagrees and says it adds nothing to the information that is already available clinically and from imaging.

Elizabeth Edwards inspired her fellow Stage IV sisters

December 12, 2020

By Chicago Tribune, Voice of the People, Katherine O'Brien

She inspired her fellow Stage IV sisters.

Despite her illness she maintained an active schedule - a source of hope for those similarly afflicted.We hear often about women, particularly celebrities, who have completed their treatment for an early-stage breast cancer. We rarely hear about women like Edwards whose breast cancer is treatable but ultimately unbeatable.

A hero of hope on cancer

December 10, 2020

By Rev. Pamela J. Breakey

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Network grieves with and for the Edwards family and the nation over the death of Elizabeth Edwards.