Articles

Quality management for systemic treatment of breast cancer

BJMO - volume 12, issue 1, february 2018

D. Verhoeven MD, PhD, F.P. Duhoux MD, PhD, E. de Azambuja MD, PhD, H. Wildiers MD, PhD, P. Vuylsteke MD, A. Barbeaux MD, N. van Damme PhD, E. Van Eycken MD

Summary

Limited literature is available about quality management in systemic treatment of breast cancer patients. Professionals are the key players in the identification and interpretation of quality indicators. The Belgian Society of Medical Oncology takes the lead in the field of quality management of systemic treatment for cancer, especially breast cancer. A narrow collaboration with the Belgian Cancer Registry will allow benchmarking. The results will be presented and discussed between peers of the society. This should lead to better outcomes for all Belgian centres. All Belgian Society of Medical Oncology members are called for active participation

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2018;12(1):15–21)

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Acute cerebral toxicity during concurrent anti-HER2 therapy and radiotherapy for breast cancer brain metastases

BJMO - volume 12, issue 1, february 2018

C. van Marcke MD, L. Renard MD, F.P. Duhoux MD, PhD

Summary

Patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer frequently develop brain metastases. Dual anti-HER2 therapy significantly prolongs survival in previously untreated metastatic disease. However, no safety data exist on the concurrent use of pertuzumab, trastuzumab and brain radiotherapy. We describe two cases of previously untreated HER2-positive breast cancer and brain metastases, who developed acute cerebral toxicity during the concomitant administration of anti-HER2 therapy and whole-brain radiotherapy. Systematic clinical data is warranted to prove the safety of this association.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2018;12(1):22–25)

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Systemic chemotherapy regimens in early breast cancer patients: updated recommendations from the BSMO breast cancer task force

BJMO - volume 11, issue 8, december 2017

H. Wildiers MD, PhD, F.P. Duhoux MD, PhD, A. Awada MD, PhD, E. de Azambuja MD, PhD

SUMMARY

Since the publication from the Belgian Society of Medical Oncology breast cancer task force in 2014 in the Belgian Journal of Medical Oncology, new information has become available on optimal chemotherapy regimens for early breast cancer patients. On February 24th, 2017, 37 medical oncologists involved in breast cancer management reviewed the most important scientific data on this topic. The authors of this paper summarised the findings, and sent a questionnaire to the members asking for their input. This paper summarises the consensus of this exercise.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2017;11(8):375–379)

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CDK 4/6 inhibitors in the treatment of advanced breast cancer

BJMO - volume 11, issue 5, september 2017

L. Lallemand , F.P. Duhoux MD, PhD

SUMMARY

Dysregulation of the cell cycle, especially in the cyclin D-cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) pathway, is a key component of carcinogenesis, also in breast cancer. Cyclin dependent kinase inhibition has emerged as an attractive targeted cancer therapy. Recently, three oral agents selectively targeting CDK 4/6 have been developed for the treatment of breast cancer: palbociclib (PD 0332991), ribociclib (LEE011), and abemaciclib (LY2835219). Clinical trials have shown an improvement in progression-free survival when palbociclib and ribociclib are used in combination with endocrine therapy. The next wave of studies will examine the efficacy of CDK 4/6 inhibitors in combination with other targeted therapies, in the (neo)-adjuvant situation, and in other breast cancer subtypes, such as HER2 positive breast cancer. Palbociclib and ribociclib recently received accelerated Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of hormone receptor positive advanced breast cancer in combination with endocrine therapy. This combination has become the new standard of care for the treatment of patients with hormone receptor positive breast cancer.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2017;11(5):234–241)

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Adjuvant endocrine therapy in pre- and perimenopausal women with breast cancer: practice guidelines

BJMO - volume 10, issue 3, may 2016

F.P. Duhoux MD, PhD, P. Neven MD, PhD, A. Awada MD, PhD, M. Berlière MD, PhD, H. Wildiers MD, PhD, H. Denys MD, PhD

Summary

Oestrogen receptor positive early invasive breast cancer is a common disease in pre- and perimenopausal women. Adjuvant endocrine therapy is an essential part of its treatment. Until recently, premenopausal patients were uniformly treated with tamoxifen during five years. Given the recent publication of large clinical trials showing a benefit for other treatment regimens, the BSMO Breast Cancer Task Force met on the 6th of March, 2015, to propose common guidelines for adjuvant endocrine therapy for premenopausal patients. The members agreed that low-risk patients should be treated with five to ten years of tamoxifen, while the highest-risk patients should be treated with exemestane or tamoxifen plus ovarian function suppression. Special attention should be given to patients less than 35 years at diagnosis: in this subgroup, exemestane plus ovarian function suppression is preferred to tamoxifen plus ovarian function suppression.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2016;10(3):92–96)

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