A few interesting articles selected and posted!

• MSK will work with Quest Diagnostics to screen patients’ cancer genes in an effort to pinpoint the most appropriate drugs to treat their conditions. About 34 genes which have the greatest potential to have drugs that can target their mutations, will be tested. MSK will supply information about the tumor and the most promising drugs and clinical trials will be initiated.  It is hoped the initiative will be widened to 341 genes next year.
• To help young breast cancer patients retain their fertility, which may be lost as a result of chemotherapy, a study from the Cleveland Clinic showed that temporarily stopping women’s monthly cycles may provide protection. In addition, it might result in lengthened survival. MSK’s Dr. Clifford Hudis, Chief of the Breast Cancer Service, believes this finding may be utilized for other tumors as well. Dr. Hudis, who is president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), made his comments at the annual meeting of ASCO taking place in Chicago. The drug which brought about the shutdown of the ovaries, Goserelin, was given to half of the 257 women in the study.
• Immunotherapy drugs which utilize the body’s immune system to fight tumors, are being recognized as bringing about increased survival rates. MSK’s Dr. Jedd Wolchok, Chief of the Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Service, spoke of the beneficial effects of immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma patients at the current meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Dr. Wolchok reported that a few years ago, the 2 year survival rate for metastatic melanoma might have been less than 10 percent. In a recent clinical trial in which patients received the optimal dose of 2 immunotherapy drugs, the 2 year survival rate was 88 percent.

• Women who choose to have a double mastectomy to avoid developing breast cancer in a healthy breast or having a recurrence, are doing so unnecessarily according to a new study. The study reported that the risk of developing breast cancer again is extremely small – 3 percent. MSK’s Dr. Tari King, Deputy Chief and Director of Research, Breast Service, weighed in on the report, saying that when patients are told removing the healthy breast will not extend their lives, “there is a disconnect.”