Breast Cancer
Benjamin Walbaum/X

Weekly Breast Cancer Research Highlights by Benjamin Walbaum

Benjamin Walbaum, Medical Oncologist at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Weekly Breast Cancer Research Highlights: My personal selection-ENJOY

1. Real-World Effectiveness of PARP Inhibitors After CDK4/6 Inhibitor Therapy in BRCA-Mutated HR+/HER2− Advanced Breast Cancer

  • Real-world multicenter cohort post-CDK4/6i.
  • PARP inhibitor activity and safety preserved.

Take-home message

  • Supports PARPi use after CDK4/6i failure.

2. Concomitant Radiation Therapy and Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Metastatic Breast Cancer

  • Real-world international experience with RT + T-DXd.
  • Low rates of severe pneumonitis; no clear radionecrosis signal (n=32).

Take-home message

  • Concomitant RT with T-DXd appears feasible in selected patients.

3. Practical Considerations for the Use of Antiemetics in Pregnant Patients With Breast Cancer

  • Trimester-specific CINV management and fetal safety.
  • Safe use of 5-HT3 antagonists (after 1st trimester), olanzapine, selected steroids.

Take-home message

  • Effective supportive care is achievable with tailored adjustments.

4. Outcomes of Anastrozole, Letrozole, and Exemestane in Postmenopausal Early Breast Cancer

  • French nationwide target-trial emulation (n>148,000).
  • Exemestane associated with inferior DFS/OS.

Take-home message

  • Anastrozole or letrozole may be preferred first-line AIs.

5. Novel Treatment Strategies and Research Priorities for Breast Cancer With CNS Metastases

  • Review of ADCs, HER2-targeted therapies, and PARPi with CNS activity.

Take-home message

  • CNS metastases require biology-driven, disease-specific trial designs.

6. Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer With Low ER Expression

  • Registry data (>10,000 patients) with ER 1–9%.
  • ET improved OS, BCSS, and RFS (except in pCR).

Take-home message

  • ET should not be omitted, particularly in PR-positive disease.

7. p53 Inactivation Drives Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis via SCD1

  • p53 loss promotes brain tropism through lipid metabolism reprogramming.
  • SCD1 inhibition reduced brain metastases in models.

Take-home message

  • Lipid metabolism is a targetable vulnerability in brain metastasis.

8. Axillary Management After Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy (NET)

  • Low nodal pCR after NET (~7%).
  • Very low locoregional recurrence despite residual disease.

Take-home message

  •  Axillary de-escalation after NET may be feasible in selected patients.

9. Circulating T-Cell Receptor Repertoire in Breast Cancer (VGH-TAYLOR Study)

  • Higher TCR clonality linked to advanced disease and worse OS.
  • Post-treatment TCR richness associated with pCR.

Take-home message

  •  Peripheral TCR metrics are promising dynamic biomarkers.

BONUS TRACK. Declining Research Interest Among Oncology Residents

  •  Longitudinal French study shows progressive loss of research engagement.
  •  Main barriers: lack of protected time, mentorship, and funding.

Take-home message

  •  The clinician-scientist pipeline requires urgent structural support.”

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