Adam  M.  Brufsky, MD, PhD

Adam M. Brufsky, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine and associate chief in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, medical director of the Magee-Women’s Cancer Program, codirector of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center, and associate director for Clinical Investigations at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, discusses the use of neoadjuvant therapy for patients with triple–negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Since most of these patients are going to require chemotherapy at some point, their physicians have to decide whether they should get neoadjuvant therapy or not. Brufsky tells patients that if they have to get chemotherapy, they should most likely get it first. That allows multiple things to happen such as tumor shrinkage, which means surgery could be less extensive; if a mastectomy is required, neoadjuvant therapy gives the physicians time to prepare and get the surgery set up; and if the patient has a family history of cancer, it gives the physician time to test for 

 mutations, which will help make decisions about surgery.

Additionally, neoadjuvant therapy allows physicians to see if the chemotherapy is working because if it doesn’t, then they can give the patient something different afterwards, according to Brufsky. If the tumor in a patient with TNBC is larger than 1 cm, then neoadjuvant therapy is considered.

Videos

Adam M. Brufsky, MD, PhD, discusses the use of neoadjuvant therapy for patients with triple–negative breast cancer.

Exploring When to Use Neoadjuvant Treatment in TNBC

Brufsky mentions that the two main adverse effects are arthralgia and  bone loss. Severe arthralgia occurs in only 10% of patients, and it typically alleviates on its own. There are ways to prevent bone loss as well.

Brufsky believes it would be beneficial to define the subtypes of DCIS that need little to no treatment.

Adam  M. &nbsp;Brufsky, MD, PhD, â€‹professor of medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, associate director of clinical investigation, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, discusses the adverse effects, as well as future treatments, of anastrozole in patients with ductal carcinoma In situ (DCIS).

Adam  M.  Brufsky, MD, PhD, â€‹professor of medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, associate director of clinical investigation, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, discusses the adverse effects, as well as future treatments, of anastrozole in patients with ductal carcinoma In situ (DCIS).


Adam M. Brufsky, MD, PhD | Authors

Articles

Exploring When to Use Neoadjuvant Treatment in TNBC

Adverse Effects of Anastrozole in Patients With DCIS