debutripathy Blog

An update on the Cancer Genome Atlas for breast cancer

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:07:00 -0600

The final day of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium began with an update from members of the working group of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Genome Consortium (IGC) who are together embarking on a massive project to obtain broa...

Video blog: Test could spare some DCIS patients from radiation

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:00:00 -0600

Dr. Debu Tripathy discusses how a test, a variation of the Oncotype DX test, could help physicians decide on radiation therapy for their patients diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Video blog: HER2-targeted agents

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:38:00 -0600

Dr. Debu Tripathy explains the HER2 pathway's involvement in breast cancer and how new investigational drugs, including pertuzumab and TDM1, as well as combinations of new and approved drugs are targeting this pathway.

Video blog: Complications with brachytherapy in breast cancer

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:36:00 -0600

Dr. Debu Tripathy discusses a new study released at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium that shows brachytherapy may cause more complications than once thought. Is it right for you?

Video blog: CLEOPATRA and pertuzumab in breast cancer

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:38:00 -0600

With the announcement of the positive results of pertuzumab in metastatic breast cancer here at the 2011 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dr. Debu Tripathy gives a breakdown of the trial and what it means for patients.

Video blog: BOLERO-2 and Afinitor in breast cancer

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:42:00 -0600

Dr. Debu Tripathy explains the updated results of the BOLERO-2 study, which looked at Afinitor (everolimus) and an aromatase inhibitor in metastatic breast cancer. How useful will this new drug be in metastatic breast cancer?

Preventing late recurrences – New insights from San Antonio

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:45:00 -0600

At the first set of scientific sessions of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, there was a common theme to many of the presentations. This revolves around the long natural history of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer – what this means is t...

What to look for at this year's SABCS breast cancer meeting

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:20:00 -0600

This year's Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium has several presentations that could have immediate impacts on breast cancer care. Many of the details of results of clinical trials and other studies will not be fully disclosed until the time o...

Is pink demystifying and destigmatizing breast cancer?

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:03:00 -0600

This month, I have seen more pink on the football fields across the country that I have ever seen before. I know that many wonder whether the "pinkification" campaign is really working and whether it is a fair way to raise awareness. Does this simply...

Drug approvals: Are we in a new age yet?

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 00:04:00 -0600

With all the news of cancer drug shortages and the FDA's controversial decision to withdraw approval of Avastin (bevacizumab) for breast cancer, we are also getting some positive developments. Just recently (on Aug. 26), the FDA granted acce...

Do the FDA Avastin hearings mark the end of an era?

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:20:00 -0600

The Avastin public hearings, which were organized by the FDA, began yesterday as part of Genentech's appeal to reverse the FDA's plan to withdraw the drug's accelerated approval. This temporary approval, which was pending more data, was granted b...

The evolving PARP inhibitor story

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:58:00 -0600

The story of PARP inhibitors for breast cancer continues to unfold following Monday's presentation at ASCO. There are a lot of teaching moments in this story regarding the PARP inhibitor iniparib. The initial dramatic results from the randomized phas...

A preview of ASCO – The new way of doing clinical trials

Tue, 31 May 2011 08:55:00 -0600

For decades, we have used the same system of testing and ultimately approving new treatments for cancer. The starting point of new drugs has become sexier--by targeting genetic lesions and avoiding some of the poisonous effects of older drugs. But ...

Navigating through the complex web of clinical trials

Wed, 11 May 2011 08:47:00 -0600

Our stories and blogs about new treatments invariably raise questions that pertain to different clinical situations being experienced by our readers. Would this new treatment apply to my condition? How would I get access to this new drug through a cl...

A few more answers (and questions) about the PARP inhibitor trials

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:25:00 -0600

The Feb. 28 posting regarding PARP inhibitors drew several comments I thought should be addressed. There has been considerable interest in PARP inhibitors because of the early activity cancers associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, as well as tri...