Metastatic Breast Cancer

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Study: Use of cannabis for cancer symptom management

Among people with cancer, interest in the use of cannabis to manage cancer symptoms and treatment side effects is high. The world's leading professional organization of oncologists has published strategies to help adults with cancer and their healthcare providers have open, nonjudgmental discussions about the use of cannabis to manage cancer symptoms. (Posted 9/27/24)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Study: Combining two anti-HER2 drugs improves outcomes more effectively than one

Combining two anti-HER2 drugs increased the time until cancer returned for people with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer compared to people who received just one anti-HER2 drug. People whose breast cancer had metastasized to the brain also benefitted from the two combined drugs. (Posted 9/17/24)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Update: News from the FDA: Updates on breast cancer treatment

The FDA updates the risks of using BioZorb Markers and approves a new imaging drug for breast cancer. (Posted 8/16/24)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Topic: Acupressure for cancer symptom relief

Acupressure is a safe treatment that can be used to relieve some symptoms of cancer and side effects of treatment. Light pressure applied to key points on the body may help with fatigue, sleep, nausea and possibly other symptoms as well. (Posted 8/1/24)

Este artículo está disponible en español.