Biomarker Predicts Risk of BC Recurrence after Tamoxifen

Heidihill

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130629164733.htm

"Most patients with early-stage, ER-positive breast cancer remain cancer-free after five years of tamoxifen treatment, but they remain at risk of recurrence for 15 years or longer after their initial treatment," says Dennis Sgroi, MD, of the MGH Cancer Center and Department of Pathology, lead and corresponding author of the report. "Our biomarker identifies the subgroup of patients who continue to be at risk of recurrence after tamoxifen treatment and who will benefit from extended therapy with letrozole, which should allow many women to avoid unnecessary extended treatment."

jenrio

"Tissue samples were available from 83 patients whose tumors recurred during the study period -- 31 who had received letrozole and 52 in the placebo group -- and 166 patients with no recurrence, 91 of whom had received letrozole, with 75 getting the placebo. "

This is indication how the protection offered by adjuvant prevention of MBC model is extremely leaky in select group of patients.  and it takes 15 years to find out that the "protection" is leaky.

cp418

Yes - I read this article and saw that early stage breast cancer patients were node negative.  My oncologist encouraged me as a stage 2 patient with a postive node to try for minimum 7 years of anti-hormonal coverage.  Any positive nodes in stage 2-3 patients places us in higher-risk category than stage 0-1 patients.