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The author pays tribute to Professor Karen Rothenberg, a health law scholar and founder of the Law & Health Care Program at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in Baltimore, Maryland. Topics discussed include characteristics of Rothenberg which were recognized at a National Institutes of Health conference on reproductive genetic testing in November 1991, her involvement in the National Action Plan for Breast Cancer, and her advocacy works for women.

This year San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) celebrated its 40th anniversary. As in the past years, this year's conference was held in Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Centre, San Antonio, Texas, on 5-9 December 2017. The conference highlighted many different topic on breast cancer including basic science, translational research, local therapies, systemic therapies, survivorship, early clinical trials, and surgical topics. Even though SABCS evolved towards basic science and systemic therapy based manner in recent years, there were some important topics about local therapies and surgical approach. In this conference report, presentations and keynote talks about surgical field and local therapies will be summarised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tumour landscapes are varied, and depending on the orchestration of specific molecular pathways, signaling of its early manifestation could be understood. The conventional ways to signal the metabolic expression of cancers are notably via recognizing the altered glycolytic pathways in the cells whereby the transport of glucose is unchecked by the high demand of the ATP production by the cancer cells. It is notwithstanding that by relying on the glucose analogue (flurodeoxyglucose, FDG) signaling in cells, there are other cellular mechanism deemed to be explored, that is, the cell membrane or lipid metabolism. Molecular imaging-based nanoparticles are proving useful for cell trafficking studies, whereas radionuclide- and optical-based molecular-genetic reporters are yet to be determined. On the other hand, for receptor- or enzyme-based imaging or for studying the pharmacokinetic disposition of chemotherapeutic agents, the radionuclide-based techniques predominate. This review highlights the utility of the molecular imaging techniques in expressing the altered lipid metabolism, that is, choline transport in cells as an index of tumour aggressiveness in breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 15th St. Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference 2017 in Vienna, Austria reviewed substantial new evidence on loco-regional and systemic therapies for early breast cancer. Treatments were assessed in light of their intensity, duration and side-effects, seeking where appropriate to escalate or de-escalate therapies based on likely benefits as predicted by tumor stage and tumor biology. The Panel favored several interventions that may reduce surgicalmorbidity, including acceptance of 2mmmargins for DCIS, the resection of residual cancer (but not baseline extent of cancer) in women undergoing neoadjuvant therapy, acceptance of sentinel node biopsy following neoadjuvant treatment of many patients, and the preference for neoadjuvant therapy in HER2 positive and triple-negative, stage II and III breast cancer. The Panel favored escalating radiation therapy with regional nodal irradiation in high-risk patients, while encouraging omission of boost in low-risk patients. The Panel endorsed gene expression signatures that permit avoidance of chemotherapy in many patients with ER positive breast cancer. For women with higher risk tumors, the Panel escalated recommendations for adjuvant endocrine treatment to include ovarian suppression in premenopausal women, and extended therapy for postmenopausal women. However, low-risk patients can avoid these treatments. Finally, the Panel recommended bisphosphonate use in postmenopausal women to prevent breast cancer recurrence. The Panel recognized that recommendations are not intended for all patients, but rather to address the clinical needs of themajority of common presentations. Individualization of adjuvant therapy means adjusting to the tumor characteristics, patient comorbidities and preferences, and managing constraints of treatment cost and access that may affect care in both the developed and developing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article lists programs under meetings of Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) to be held from November 15-17, 2016 including discussion on global advances in breast cancer, role of immunotherapy and topics in senior oncology.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy (response rate centered on 80%) of a somatostatin analog with high affinity for 4 somatostatin receptors in reducing the postoperative incidence of symptomatic lymphocele formation following total mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. Setting: This prospective, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial was conducted in two secondary care centres. Participants: All female patients for whom mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection were indicated were eligible for the study, including patients who had received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Main exclusion criteria were related to diabetes, cardiac insufficiency, disorder of cardiac conduction or hepatic failure. Interventions: Patients were randomised to receive one injection of either prolonged-release pasireotide 60 mg or placebo (physiological serum), which were administered intramuscularly 7 to 10 days before the scheduled surgery. The study was conducted in a double-blind manner. Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was the percentage of patients who did not develop post-operative axillary symptomatic lymphoceles during the 2 postoperative months. Secondary endpoints were the total quantity of lymph drained, duration and daily volume of drainage and aspirated volumes of lymph. Results: Ninety-one patients were randomised. Ninety patients were evaluable: 42 patients received pasireotide, and 48 patients received placebo. The mean estimated response rate were 62.4% (95% Credibility Interval [CrI]: 48.6%-75.3%) in the treatment group and 50.2% (95% CrI: 37.6%-62.8%) in the placebo group. Overall safety was comparable across groups, and one serious adverse event occurred. In the treatment group, one patient with known insulin-depe*ndent diabetes required hospitalization for hyperglycaemia. Conclusions: With this phase 2 preliminary study, even if our results indicate a trend towards a reduction in symptomatic lymphocele, pre-operative injection of pasireotide failed to achieve a response rate centered on 80%. Pharmacokinetics analysis suggests that effect of pasireotide could be optimised. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tenth European Breast Cancer Conference, EBCC 10, was held in Amsterdam in March 2016 with a total of 3061 participants from 95 different countries spread over five continents. The EBCC council is a joint venture of ESO, EORTC Breast Cancer Group, EUSOMA, and Europa Donna. The Scientific Programme for EBCC-10 tried to bring to the stage all the active participants in the diagnostic and treatment of breast cancer along with patients themselves. The need to achieve 'patient's access to high quality treatment' through breast units that have been accredited through a European certification process was the basis of the EBCC 10 manifesto. The congress scientific programme allowed participants to review the most up-to-date knowledge in the breast cancer field presented by experts having in mind its application to every day practice. The purpose of this summary is to describe to the readers the results of the late-breaking and best abstracts presented at EBCC10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2nd International Consensus Conference for Breast Cancer in Young Women (BCY2) took place in November 2014, in Dublin, Ireland organized by the European School of Oncology (ESO). Consensus recommendations for the management of breast cancer in young women (BCYW) were updated from BCY1 with incorporation of new evidence to inform the guidelines, and areas of research priorities were identified. This manuscript summarizes these international consensus recommendations, which are also endorsed by the European Society of Breast Specialists (EUSOMA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been an exciting year for breast cancer management. From the announcement of the Suppression of Ovarian Function Trial (SOFT) results last December at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium to the latest changes in screening, prophylactic mastectomy and the evaluation of new chemotherapy and targeted therapies this review aims to evaluate the advances of the past year. Emphasizing the most significant presentations at the symposium, it provides a look ahead at the changes anticipated in 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is a global health issue, and as the tumor burden increases, we need to come up with newer, better technologies which are convenient, cheap, rapid, sensitive with a high specificity. Technological advancements in the field of cancer biomarker has led to the development of techniques such as mass spectrometric analysis and microarray analysis in which genes, proteins and hundreds and thousands of metabolites can be identified with the emergence of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics. This research is focused on finding biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, staging, treatment response and targets for chemotherapy, generating a panel of markers which provide better clinical information compared to a single marker in the panel. This review briefly summarizes application of genomics and proteomics followed by key concepts and applications of metabolomics in breast cancer, with the conclusion that an integration of the three "OMIC" technologies may hold the key to future biomarker discovery. Sources of Data/Study Selection: The information for this review was collected by searching the Google Scholar and PubMed database for English articles published in the period from 2002 to 2015. The search terms included "biomarkers in breast cancer" along with the following search terms: "genomics", "proteomics", "metabolomics", "breast cancer", "mass spectrometry", "molecular markers" and "cancer biomarker". We have endeavored to quote only the primary sources. Titles and abstracts of retrieved studies were assessed first followed by selection and retrieval of selected full text articles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review focuses on the updates presented at the ASCO 2015 symposium in breast and gastrointestinal malignancies. Some were practice changing while others gave us an exciting glimpse into what's to come in the very near future. Immunotherapy was the buzz word this year with data presented on every tumor site. Data on the effi cacy of anti PD-1 agents in colorectal, hepatocellular and gastric cancer were presented. In breast cancer we saw data on a new and exciting therapeutic target in the form of androgen receptor among triple receptor negative breast tumors presented. Positive results of the PALOMA 3 trial were presented that has given women with hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer another therapeutic option. Furthermore data on strategies to further improve anti her2 therapy, optimizing of chemotherapy in the early and advanced stage and various strategies to improve endocrine therapy among patients with breast cancer were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The breast section of these Guidelines and Recommendations for Elastography produced under the auspices of the World Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) assesses the clinically used applications of all forms of elastography used in breast imaging. The literature on various breast elastography techniques is reviewed, and recommendations are made on evidence-based results. Practical advice is given on how to perform and interpret breast elastography for optimal results, with emphasis placed on avoiding pitfalls. Artifacts are reviewed, and the clinical utility of some artifacts is discussed. Both strain and shear wave techniques have been shown to be highly accurate in characterizing breast lesions as benign or malignant. The relationship between the various techniques is discussed, and recommended interpretation based on a BI-RADS-like malignancy probability scale is provided. This document is intended to be used as a reference and to guide clinical users in a practical way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The san antonio breast cancer syposium (SABCS 2014) was an exciting one this year. Data from the SOFT trial was presented that had potential implications on the treatment of pre menapausal women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer. In a phase II trial fulvestrant was found to significantly improve progression free and overall survival compared to anastrazole in the first line treatment of women with hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer. We saw a number of intersting abstracts looking at trying to refine the role of platinums and exploring the role of blocking PD-1 among women with triple receptor negative breast cancer. We also saw the results of a number of trials trying to refine standard chemotherapeutic regimens. Here we will review some fon the most interesting abstracts presented this year at SABCS 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The refinement of the classification, the risk of relapse and the prediction of response to multidisciplinary treatment for early breast cancer has been the major theme of the 14th St Gallen International Breast Cancer Consensus Conference 2015. The meeting, held in Vienna, assembled 3500–4000 participants from 134 countries worldwide. It culminated, on the final day, with the International Consensus Session, delivered by 40–50 of the world's most experienced opinion leaders in the field of breast cancer treatment. The panelist addressed the "semantic" classification of breast cancer subtypes by pathology-based biomarkers (e.g. estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and HER2) vs genomic classifiers. They also refined the biomarker prognostication dissecting the impact of the various gene signatures and pathologic variables in predicting the outcome of patients with early breast cancer in terms of early and late relapse. Finally they addressed the challenges stemming from the intra- and inter-observer variability in the assessment of pathologic variables and the role of gene signatures for the prediction of response to specific therapeutic approach such as endocrine therapy and chemotherapy and for personalizing local treatment of patients with early breast cancer. The vast majority of the questions asked during the consensus were about controversial issues. The opinion of the panel members has been used to implement guidance for treatment choice. This is the unique feature of the St. Gallen Consensus, ensuring that the resulting recommendations will take due cognizance of the variable resource limitations in different countries. Information derived from evidence based medicine and large meta-analyses is of obvious and enormous value. The weakness of this approach is that it gives particular weight to older trials (which have accumulated more event endpoints) and is frequently unable to collect sufficient detail on the patients and tumors in the trials to allow assessment of whether the treatments which are better on average offer equal value to all currently definable patient subgroups. What St Gallen can provide is clinically useful updated breast cancer treatment consensus for the majority of patients treated outside of clinical trials (>90%) in most countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 37th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) was held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Conference Centre in San Antonio, Texas, USA between the 9 and 13th of December 2014. It brought together an interaction between basic scientists and clinicians involved in the management of breast cancer. The symposium included six general sessions, poster discussion, and poster sessions. The most important highlights in the fields of advancing endocrine therapy; hormone receptor positive advanced breast cancer and hormonal resistant therapy; targeted therapies; genetics and genomics; supportive (adjunct) care; chemotherapy treatments; breast screening and risk stratification; male breast cancer and future potential directions were included here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ninth European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-9), one of the largest breast cancer conferences in the world, was held in Glasgow in March 2014, and brought together the voices of doctors, researchers, nurses, and patients. All the major breast cancer advocacy groups and institutions were united in one forum (Europa Donna, the EORTC Breast Cancer group, and EUSOMA). The Scientific Programme for EBCC-9 highlighted a holistic picture of breast cancer, including research, prevention, treatment, advocacy, and care. Participants were able to discover the most up-to-date developments and findings within the field for implementation into daily practice. Improvements in treatment, as well as enhanced access to care, underlie the sustained decreases in breast cancer mortality seen in 30 European countries from 1989 to 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The 1st International Consensus Conference for Breast Cancer in Young Women (BCY1) took place in November 2012, in Dublin, Ireland organized by the European School of Oncology (ESO). Consensus recommendations for management of breast cancer in young women were developed and areas of research priorities were identified. This manuscript summarizes these international consensus recommendations, which are also endorsed by the European Society of Breast Specialists (EUSOMA). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

With the development and increasing accessibility of new genomic tools such as next-generation sequencing, genome-wide association studies, and genomic stratification models, the debate on genetic discrimination in the context of life insurance became even more complex, requiring a review of current practices and the exploration of new scenarios. In this perspective, a multidisciplinary group of international experts representing different interests revisited the genetics and life insurance debate during a 2-day symposium 'Life insurance: breast cancer research and genetic risk prediction seminar' held in Quebec City, Canada on 24 and 25 September 2012. Having reviewed the current legal, social, and ethical issues on the use of genomic information in the context of life insurance, the Expert Group identified four main questions: (1) Have recent developments in genomics and related sciences changed the contours of the genetics and life insurance debate? (2) Are genomic results obtained in a research context relevant for life insurance underwriting? (3) Should predictive risk assessment and risk stratification models based on genomic data also be used for life insurance underwriting? (4) What positive actions could stakeholders in the debate take to alleviate concerns over the use of genomic information by life insurance underwriters? This paper presents a summary of the discussions and the specific action items recommended by the Expert Group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Bombesin was conjugated covalently with PEG-coated gold nanorods. [•] Cell binding assay showed selective binding of new contrast agent to cancer cells. [•] Biodistribution study showed accumulation of GNR–PEG–BBN in breast tumor. [•] The conjugate showed potential as a targeted contrast agent for PIA of breast cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The 2012 Conference on Radiation and Health in Kennebunkport, Maine, USA, brought together epidemiologists, statisticians, basic scientists, and clinical scientists interested in the health effects of radiation exposure due to medical, diagnostic, occupational, and non-medical sources, to review the current status of epidemiologic and clinical research on radiation exposure in relation to risk of breast, thyroid cancer, and leukemia, cardiopulmonary events, and other late effects. Topics discussed included synergy between radiation exposure and genetic background; late effects of radiation therapy in childhood cancer survivors and several other medically exposed cohorts; leukemia risk seen in Russian and Chernobyl studies, and leukemia risk from computed tomography scans in childhood. Results and conclusions: This report summarizes the presentations at the meeting and discusses their significance in light of earlier studies and of other ongoing research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We critically evaluated the available evidence on genomic tests in breast cancer to define their prognostic ability and likelihood to determine treatment benefit. Design Independent evaluation of six genomic tests [Oncotype Dx™, MammaPrint®, Genomic Grade Index, PAM50 (ROR-S), Breast Cancer Index, and EndoPredict] was carried out by a panel of experts in three parameters: analytical validity, clinical validity, and clinical utility based on the principles of the EGAPP criteria. Panel statements The majority of the working group members found the available evidence on the analytical and clinical validity of Oncotype Dx™ and MammaPrint® to be convincing. None of the genomic tests demonstrated robust evidence of clinical utility: it was not clear from the current evidence that modifying treatment decisions based on the results of a given genomic test could result in improving clinical outcome. Conclusions The IMPAKT 2012 Working Group proposed the following recommendations: (i) a need to develop models that integrate clinicopathologic factors along with genomic tests; (ii) demonstration of clinical utility should be made in the context of a prospective randomized trial; and (iii) the creation of registries for patients who are subjected to genomic testing in the daily practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABC) is a multidisciplinary conference that covers basic molecular and cellular biology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of all types of breast cancer and premalignant breast disease. In 2012, this meeting was held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, United States, from 4 to 8 December. The symposium consisted of lectures within six general sections covering a range of topics in breast cancer research. These included discussions on research of breast cancer posters, a large number of specialist sessions, and several minisymposia. The report below describes much of the research presented in those general lecture sessions. The abstracts of all papers and posters presented at this conference have been published in Cancer Research as a supplement: Cancer Research (2012) 72(24), 1s-608s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the history and activities of the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Senology (Austrian Society for Senology) ahead of its 30th annual meeting on September 27-28, 2012, in Vienna, Austria.

The inaugural Canadian Consortium for LABC (locally advanced breast cancer) conference was held at Langdon Hall, Cambridge, Ontario, April 11-12, 2010. The meeting focused on current and future directions in LABC treatment and research, the specific benefits of LABC as a model for clinical and translational research, strategies for increased national and international collaboration, and ongoing clinical trials. Exciting Canadian initiatives in LABC research are underway, focusing on identifying molecular signatures that will allow for the development of new tailored therapies. The challenge of identifying patient subgroups for accrual is being addressed through strategies to foster and improve national collaboration. This meeting report includes highlights from each presentation at the conference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the papers presented during the 10th International Conference on Cancer-Induced Bone Disease held in Sheffield, England from September 22-25, 2010 is presented. The meeting was designed to facilitate partnership and knowledge transfer between clinicians and scientists who are engaged in the areas of cancer and bone biology. Some of the papers presented during the event focused on the metastatic spread of breast and prostate cancers to bone.

Information on several topics discussed at the conference sponsored by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is presented. Topics include the improvement of genetic and proteomic profiling, the identification of microRNAs, and prostate and breast cancer. It also discusses the palliative care for metastatic cancer patients.

Information on several issues discussed in the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2009 are presented. The topics included risk adapted, individualized therapy for breast cancer, therapy decisions in postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and imaging procedures for diagnosis of breast cancer. The symposium featured several medical specialists including Ingo Bauerfeind, Christian Jackisch and Thorsten Kühn.

Information on topics discussed at the Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) Lay Day conference is presented. Topics discussed include the conference dedicated to gene mutation carriers, at-risk individuals and their families, basic principles of the genetics of breast and ovarian cancer, and presentation by Laura Palma, Genetic Counsellor, at the conference.

Researchers are using the intraductal approach to advance breast cancer risk assessment, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Procedures and technologies that can access and interrogate the ductal-alveolar systems include nipple aspiration, ductal lavage and ductoscopy. Ductoscopic papillectomy, ductoscopic margin evaluation, and intraductal therapy are considered promising investigational and innovative treatments. These techniques are used to explore the biology of the normal breast; collect and analyze breast fluid and cells to identify biomarkers that can be used in breast cancer detection and risk assessment; and to identify new ways to find and administer therapeutic and/or preventive agents to the breast tissue. This report summarizes the latest research findings in these areas, presented at The 6th International Symposium on the Intraductal Approach to Breast Cancer in 2009. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer in young women is uncommon, but when it does occur it has been reported to have aggressive biological characteristics. The incidence of breast cancer peaks at age 40 in Hong Kong Chinese women, earlier than in Caucasians. This study is the first to report the tumor characteristics and management of breast cancer in Chinese women younger than age 40 and a comparison with their older counterparts. Demographic and clinicopathologic findings of 1,485 Chinese women with breast cancer seen during the period September 2003 to November 2006 were prospectively recorded, and comparisons were made between those who were under the age of 40 and those 40 years of age and older. These results were then compared with a reference population obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database between 2003 and 2004. 17.6% of the women were younger than 40 years old, and age distribution was significantly different from women in the SEER database. The mean age at menarche was lower in women under age 40 ( p < 0.0005), and age at first live birth was also higher ( p = 0.017). The rate of first detection by screening mammography was significantly higher among women who were 40 of age and older ( p = 0.002). Breast conservation surgery was more commonly performed in the younger age group of Chinese women, particularly when tumor size was less than 2 cm ( p = 0.001). A significantly higher proportion of women under age 40 had breast reconstruction ( p < 0.001). The majority of women presented with stage 0-II disease, but in the Chinese groups the younger patients presented at a later stage ( p = 0.04). Younger women had higher pathological grade and poorly differentiated tumors ( p = 0.02), more nodal involvement ( p = 0.024), and lymphovascular permeation involvement ( p < 0.001). The majority of tumors were ER and PR positive in both groups, but younger women had a higher proportion of cerbB2-positive tumors. Chinese women present with breast cancer at an earlier age. Younger women present with more advanced disease and more aggressive tumor characteristics. More ethnic-specific screening protocols and treatment decisions may benefit this group of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about several topics discussed at the Sixth International Consensus Conference on Breast Cancer Risk, Genetics, & Risk Management in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 26-29, 2007 is presented. Topics include risk factor for breast cancer, chemoprevention drugs, and the surgical treatment of cancer. The conference featured several notable individuals including Gordon F. Schwartz, Kevin S. Hughes, and Henry T. Lynch.

Information about several papers discussed at the 29th Annual San Antonio, Texas Breast Cancer symposium is presented. Topics include on the dose-dense chemotherapy as a new treatment option in breast cancer. It also presents the neoadjuvant chemotheraphy as an established treatment in breast cancer.

Tómatelo a Pecho, Funsalud, the Harvard Global Equity Initiative, and the Mexican Ministry of Health led a group of institutions in organising the Sixth Annual International Symposium marking breast cancer awareness month in Mexico on 20-21 October 2014. This year's event, with the theme 'Young Women and Breast Cancer: Challenges and Answers', took place at the National Institute of Perinatology in Mexico City. This was the first time the symposium focused almost entirely on young women. The reasons for this emphasis were reported on by many national and global experts, who also presented evidence to show that breast cancer has become a leading cause of death among younger women in Mexico, and conveyed the benefits of early breast cancer detection and the need to create innovative solutions for care and survivorship support for this age group. Over the course of one-and-a-half days, the symposium covered a wide range of topics and perspectives, including the epidemiology, biology, and genetics of breast cancer; challenges; and innovative answers to early detection and the myriad of short- and long-term challenges faced by patients with breast cancer, such as some cutting-edge techniques used to preserve fertility in women undergoing chemotherapy. How the presence of local and global stakeholders will ensure the accountability of the multiple participants already immersed in the various areas of research and activities related to breast cancer. The voices of the Ministry of Health and of other institutions central to the Mexican health system show that there is a political will for work in this area, and there are the means to make a change happen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on the results of the 1998 International Conference on Adjuvant Therapy of Primary Breast Cancer held in Saint Gallen, Switzerland. Factors identified that define those cancer patients that should not receive adjuvant systemic therapy; Research findings presented in the conference; Consensus panel recommendations and guidelines.

The author discusses the utility of genetics in determining risk, making cancer diagnoses, and developing treatment for breast cancer. The author mentions that findings of such researches have been presented at the 2012 Cancer Therapy and Research Center-American Association for Cancer Research San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (CTRC-AACR). The author notes that the findings indicated that aberrant methylation of the PRKD1 gene is associated with invasiveness of breast cancer cell lines.

The article discusses the highlights of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center-American Association for Cancer Research (CTRC-AACR) San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium held in Texas in December 2011. The results of studies on breast cancer were presented including ones on the link between obesity in older women and increased breast cancer risk, predicting recurrence, and drug combinations to treat cancer. Study authors and presenters included Håkan Olsson, Lawrence Solin and Minetta Liu.

Information about several abstracts discussed at a symposium held during September 12-16, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan on hormonal oncogenes is presented. The talks covered a range of topics in prostate, breast and ovarian cancer. The symposium featured several attendees from across Southeast Asia and Australia, as well as Europe and North America including Hsing-Jien Kung, Norman Maitland and Subrata Sen.

The author invites readers of the periodical and members of the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) to attend COSA's 37th Annual Scientific Meeting to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center in Victoria on November 9-11, 2010. He welcomes the Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group as the COSA's partner in the 2010 meeting. The main theme of the event focuses on patients with breast, gynecological, and urological cancers who have undergone treatment and their survivorship.

Information about hormone therapy (HT) and breast cancer discussed at the 66th Annual Clinical Meeting of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) held on June 4, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec is presented. Topics include the incidence of breast cancer in women and the risks associated with hormone therapy. The meeting featured Dr. John Collins who discussed his study on the risks of breast cancer relative to hormone therapy.