Breast Cancer
Relevance: High
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with cancer who require 5-FU or capecitabine treatment
Guideline: FDA recommends testing to prevent serious side effects from 5-FU and capecitabine chemotherapy
A small number of people treated with the chemotherapy drugs 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) or capecitabine (Xeloda) can have serious or even life-threatening side effects because their body breaks down the drug more slowly than is typical. A genetic test called DPYD testing can help identify people at higher risk for serious side effects before treatment starts. (posted 2/11/26)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Most relevant for: People who have had or are considering liquid biopsy testing
Topic: What patients need to know about liquid biopsies in cancer care
Liquid biopsies are tests that look for signs of cancer in blood or other body fluids. These signs can include cancer cells that have broken away from a tumor, pieces of cancer cell DNA and proteins or other biomarkers found in cancer cells. Liquid biopsies can be used to screen for cancer before a cancer diagnosis or guide treatment after a diagnosis. (posted 2/6/26)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Most relevant for: People who have early-stage triple-negative breast cancer and an inherited mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2
Study: Treating triple-negative breast cancer in people with inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations
This review summarizes two studies highlighted during the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Both studies focus on targeted therapy and immunotherapy given before surgery to treat early-stage triple-negative breast cancer in people with inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. One study evaluated pre-surgery treatment with Zejula and Jemperli; the other study evaluated Lynparza and Imfinzi. (posted 2/3/26)
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Relevance: High
Most relevant for: Men and women diagnosed with breast cancer who have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation
Study: Understanding the risks of a second cancer after a breast cancer diagnosis in people with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations
After breast cancer, people who have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation face a greater risk of a second cancer compared to individuals without a BRCA mutation. This study helps to better understand this risk so that breast cancer survivors with mutations can receive informed, personalized plans for surveillance and follow-up care. (Posted 12/11/25)
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Relevance: High
Most relevant for: People with an inherited mutation in ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, PALB2 or a Lynch syndrome gene who have been diagnosed with breast, colorectal or pancreatic cancer
Study: Cancer patients with certain inherited mutations have cancer outcomes similar to those without inherited mutations
People with an inherited mutation in certain genes, including ATM, CHEK2, PALB2, BRCA or Lynch syndrome genes, have an increased risk of cancer. In this study, researchers wanted to know whether cancer patients with inherited mutations had a different chance of survival than patients without an inherited mutation in these genes. These results showed that, although the risk of cancer is increased, there is no difference in survival after a diagnosis of breast, pancreatic or colorectal cancer with or without these genetic changes. (posted 11/20/25)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Most relevant for: People newly diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer who have BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations
Study: Breast cancer treatment combination and dose improves survival in people with inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations
Treatment before surgery with a combination of targeted therapy and chemotherapy resulted in longer survival for people with an inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation who have early-stage breast cancer. The study evaluated a new dosing strategy that made it possible to safely combine Lynparza (olaparib) and chemotherapy (carboplatin). (Posted 8/31/25)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Most relevant for: People with breast cancer or at high-risk of breast cancer
Update: FDA in the News: FDA approvals and health information on breast cancer
This XRAY review reports new treatments approved by the FDA for early and metastatic breast cancer and educational resources about women's health. (Posted 8/4/25)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Most relevant for: People with BRCA mutation who have textured breast implants
Study: Possible link between BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and rare breast implant-associated lymphoma
The causes of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare cancer that develops near implants, are unknown. Results from this study suggest that people with an inherited mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 may be at increased risk for BIA-ALCL. However, because very few cases of BIA-ALCL occurred among participants, more research is needed to confirm or refute this finding. (Posted 7/14/2025)
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Relevance: High
Most relevant for: People with advanced or metastatic breast cancer with a PIK3CA tumor mutation.
Study: New FDA approval of Itovebi, a drug that may improve treatment for certain advanced or metastatic breast cancers
About one-third of hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive), HER2-negative metastatic breast cancers have a PIK3CA tumor mutation that can increase cancer growth and lead to treatment resistance. A new targeted therapy, Itovebi (inavolisib), improved patient outcomes when combined with standard treatment. This led to the recent FDA approval of the drug. (Posted 7/3/25)
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Relevance: High
Most relevant for: People with HR-positive metastatic breast cancer
Study: Enhertu shows promising results for HER2-low and HER2-ultralow metastatic breast cancer
Recent study results show that a new targeted treatment works better than standard chemotherapy for people with metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancers with low or ultralow HER2 status. (Posted 5/15/25)
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