Hyman B. Muss, MD

Hyman B. Muss, MD, professor of medicine, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, discusses how he chooses which treatment to use for patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

By using the PREDICT model, Muss is able to pinpoint what treatment regimens might be better for each individual patient. His preference is to use the anthracycline-taxane regimen if the trials show at least a few percent higher benefit and the patient has good cardiac function.

Data shows the regimen is very well tolerated in elderly patients, with 80% - 90% of patients over 65 getting through at least 4 cycles of this therapy.

A common side effect at the 12-week mark of the weekly taxane treatment is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Muss recommends coal gloves and booties for the hands and feet to help with this side effect, a cheap alternative that has proven to work with many patients.

Muss also uses a taxotere-cyclophosphamide (TC) regimen or cyclophosphamide methotrexate fluorouracil (CMF) regimen. There are a lot of options, Muss says, so perhaps avoiding the anthracycline-taxane regimen is appropriate.

Videos

Choosing Treatment Regimens in Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hyman B. Muss, MD, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine, discusses adjuvant therapy for elderly patients with HER2-positive or triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Treating Geriatric Patients With Breast Cancer

Hyman B. Muss, MD, professor of oncology, University of North Carolina, director, Geriatric Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, gives an overview of therapies for patients with HR-positive breast cancer. Muss discussed this topic in a talk at the

31st Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference&reg;

Exemestane can extend the time of disease control substantially with some risk of toxicities.

Data have shown that biologic agents and traditional endocrine therapy can work together for possibly much better outcomes.

Pharmaceutical companies have begun to develop new compounds and analyze models of enhancing endocrine therapy with biologic agents.

Hyman B. Muss, MD, professor of oncology, University of North Carolina, director, Geriatric Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, gives an overview of therapies for patients with HR-positive breast cancer.

Therapies for Patients With HR-Positive Breast Cancer

Hyman B. Muss, MD, professor of oncology, University of North Carolina, director, Geriatric Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses maximizing cardiac function in patients with breast cancer.

Oncologists are aware of cardiac toxicity from experience with anthracyclines

Anti-HER2 therapies present new issues related to cardiac toxicity

There has been research conducted involving the use of preventative beta blockers and ACE inhibitors in patients who have a high risk of cardiac disease

Oncologists need to be cognizant of cardiac toxicity and work proactively

Hyman B. Muss, MD | Authors

Articles

Choosing Treatment Regimens in Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Treating Geriatric Patients With Breast Cancer

Therapies for Patients With HR-Positive Breast Cancer

Maximizing Cardiac Function in Patients With Breast Cancer