FORCE's eXamining the Relevance of Articles for You (XRAY) program looks behind the headlines of cancer news to help you understand what the research means for you.
XRAY is a reliable source of hereditary cancer research-related news and information.
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Metastatic Breast Cancer
Relevance: High
Strength of Science: High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : Can population-based DNA sequencing find more people at risk for hereditary cancers?
Relevance: High
Strength of Science: High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: Women over age 30
It is well documented that many BRCA mutation carriers are missed using current family history-based screening approaches. As a result, experts are beginning to call for population-based BRCA genetic testing—an organized effort to screen all women like we do for breast and cervical cancer. A recent study looked at whether a population-based genetic testing approach would better identify mutation carriers compared with current practice. (11/17/18)
Read MoreArticle : The importance of racial diversity in clinical trials
Most relevant for: People who are a member of a racial or ethnic minority group
This article by journalists Caroline Chen and Riley Wong looks at racial disparities between participation in clinical trials and the population of people with cancer. (11/6/18)
Este artículo está disponible en español.
Read MoreRelevance: High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : Surgeon attitude impacts rate of genetic testing after a breast cancer diagnosis
Relevance: High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: Young women diagnosed with breast cancer who have not yet had genetic testing
A study in JAMA Surgery this year examined the factors that impact genetic testing after a breast cancer diagnosis. This study suggests that the attitudes of attending surgeons about genetic testing have the most impact on whether patients receive testing. (10/6/18)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium-Low
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : A new method for determining whether genetic variants in BRCA1 increase cancer risk
Relevance: Medium-Low
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: People who have a Variant of Uncertain Significance in a gene associated with cancer risk.
Ever since BRCA1 was discovered, researchers have been trying to understand which of the thousands of possible DNA changes in this gene increase cancer risk and which are harmless changes. A new study in Nature reports how a cutting-edge technology called “genome editing” may be used to classify changes—known as variants of uncertain significance-in BRCA1 as harmful or harmless. Once validated, this same technology may be used to classify variants in other genes. (9/29/18)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : Gardening improves health outcomes for breast cancer patients
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: People diagnosed with breast cancer who would benefit from increased activity and from eating more vegetables
Research has shown that adopting a healthier lifestyle may improve overall health and outcomes for cancer survivors. This study looked at a 1-year home-based gardening intervention to increase activity and wellbeing among breast cancer survivors. (08/31/18)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : Study identifies genes associated with risk of triple-negative breast cancer
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: People diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer
Panel testing can identify women who are at increased risk for breast cancer. However, those at risk for triple-negative breast cancer cannot easily be identified because other than BRCA1, genes that increase the risk for triple-negative breast cancer are unknown. A new study uses panel testing to identify which genes increase the risk for triple-negative breast cancer. (8/23/18)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : Immunotherapy may lead to long-term remission of metastatic breast cancer
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: People with advanced cancers
Metastatic breast cancer is often difficult to treat. In a new approach, called adoptive cell therapy (ACT), a patient’s own T-cells (a type of cancer-fighting immune cells) are collected, multiplied in a lab, and then returned to the patient. The goal is to enhance the patient’s immune system with many more T-cells that recognize and attack metastasized tumor cells. This study reports on a single patient whose metastatic breast cancer is still in remission (no evidence of disease) after more than 22 months following ACT. (8/16/18)
Read MoreArticle : High health insurance deductibles can interfere with breast cancer treatment decisions
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with breast cancer
A New York Times article published on May 4, 2018 examines the impact of high insurance deductibles on breast cancer treatment. (7/12/18)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : Evaluation of some direct-to-consumer genetic testing reveals inaccuracies and misinterpretations
Relevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: People who are considering or have had direct-to-consumer testing
A clinical genetic testing laboratory examined results from direct-to-consumer genetic testing ordered directly by patients. They found many instances of false positives—reported mutations that were not actually present—and in some cases, reports of variants that "increased risk," but were actually benign. This study emphasized the importance of involving genetics experts in the interpretation of genetic test results. (6/28/18)
Read MoreRelevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
View Related Clinical TrialsStudy : Mutations in Lynch syndrome genes MSH6 and PMS2 may be associated with breast cancer
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
View Related Clinical TrialsMost relevant for: Women with an MSH6 or PMS2 mutation
Some women with mutations in MSH6 and PMS2, two Lynch syndrome genes, may have a modest (2 to 3-fold) increased risk for breast cancer. (6/14/18 updated 09/25/19)
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