What Treatments Are Available for HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer?

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What Treatments Are Available for HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What are the differences between HR-positive and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer? Expert Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani gives a clear breakdown around the differences and encourages patients to  ask what the available standard treatments are for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Demetria Smith-Graziani, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Smith-Graziani.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…ask about the HER2 status of your breast cancer and ask about what the available standard treatments are for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, as well as potential clinical trial options.“

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Transcript:

Lisa Hatfield:

Dr. Smith, can you explain the difference between HR-positive and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer? And what promising treatments are available for those types of cancer?

Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani:

So when we look at the cancer cells under the microscope, we test for different proteins, and one of those proteins is called HER2. Breast cancers that overexpress the HER2 protein are considered to be HER2-positive, and those do not have this overexpression are considered to be HER2-negative.  

For metastatic or stage IV breast cancer, cancers that are HER2-positive, have the option of being treated with HER2-targeted therapy, and that means that we have certain drugs that will seek out the cancer cells that are expressing these HER2 proteins bind to those cells and deliver treatments to those cancer cells that destroy those cancer cells in a more targeted fashion than traditional chemotherapy that tends to destroy all rapidly dividing cells equally.

So my activation tip for patients is ask about the HER2 status of your breast cancer and ask about what the available standard treatments are for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, as well as potential clinical trial options. 

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How Advancements in Breast Cancer Are Driven by Clinical Trials

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How Advancements in Breast Cancer Are Driven By Clinical Trials from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

Breast cancer clinical trials are a treatment option, but what do patients need to know? Expert Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani explains the importance of clinical trial participation and shares advice for patients considering clinical trials.

Demetria Smith-Graziani, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Smith-Graziani.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…ask your oncologist, ‘Are there any clinical trials that’d be a good fit for me?’ And if they mention some trials, I would ask for a copy of the consent form to read over it, which they need to provide to you anyway, and take so time to read over it on your own and ask any questions that come up so that you completely understand what the clinical trial involves, if there are any cost to the trial, how much time you would have to spend in the clinic or in a hospital getting this special treatment under the trial, and any other concerns that you might have about the trial.”

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 Noted Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities In Breast Cancer Outcomes

Noted Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities In Breast Cancer Outcomes 

Transcript:

Lisa Hatfield:

Why is clinical trial participation so important in breast cancer? And what advice do you have for patients considering a clinical trial?

Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani:

So clinical trials are vitally important to advancements in breast cancer treatments, all of the current treatments we have that are FDA-approved were approved because of the results from clinical trials that previous patients participated in.

And we won’t get any new advancements in breast cancer treatments and come up with even better, more effective treatments, unless we are able to do more clinical trials with more patients. The other part is that in the past, most of the participants of clinical trials have been pretty much the same, they have been mostly white, mostly have insurance, mostly of a higher socioeconomic status, and those patterns continue today, we are still trying to get the patients in clinical trials to reflect the true population of the United States. And in order to know that clinical trials are effective for everybody, we need to have everybody in those trials. So for patients who are considering a clinical trial, my activation tip is to ask your oncologist, “Are there any clinical trials that’d be a good fit for me?” And if they mention some trials, I would ask for a copy of the consent form to read over it, which they need to provide to you anyway, and take so time to read over it on your own and ask any questions that come up so that you completely understand what the clinical trial involves, if there are any cost to the trial, how much time you would have to spend in the clinic or in a hospital getting this special treatment under the trial, and any other concerns that you might have about the trial. 

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Emerging Treatments in Breast Cancer: Are Antibody Drug Conjugates Here to Stay?

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Emerging Treatments In Breast Cancer: Are Antibody Drug Conjugates Here to Stay? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What’s the latest breast cancer news from research studies? Expert Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani shares research updates she’s most excited about and proactive advice for patients to stay knowledgeable about care options. 

Demetria Smith-Graziani, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Smith-Graziani.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“...ask their oncologist what the recent updates in medical advancements and oncology treatments are.”

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See More from [ACT]IVATED Breast Cancer

Related Resources:

Eliminating Disparities in Breast Cancer | Tips for Navigating Inequities
 
The Role of Immunotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer or Relapse
 
 What Treatments Are Available for HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer?

What Treatments Are Available for HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer?

Transcript:

Lisa Hatfield:

Dr. Smith, what breast cancer data or studies are coming out of major medical conferences like ASCO that you’re most excited about? And can you speak to the challenge and promise or hope of these emerging treatments?

Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani:

Sure, so it’s been a really exciting past few years for breast cancer, there have been a lot of new treatments that have developed quite recently, I am particularly excited about hearing about the newest, what we call antibody drug conjugates, and those are medications that have an antibody that can bind to specific proteins found on cancer cells, so they can target cancer cells. But they also have chemotherapy attached to them, and that way they’re able to deliver that chemotherapy specifically to the cancer cells in a more targeted fashion as opposed to delivering chemotherapy to all the cells in your body. 

We’ve already had a number of approvals for very effective antibody drug conjugates for different types of breast cancer, and I look forward to seeing newer versions of antibody drug conjugates and also new uses for already existing antibody drug conjugates.  I’m also excited to see what new information we have about ways to reduce or eliminate disparities in breast cancer outcomes, because we have done a lot in recent years of describing the issues with disparities, of acknowledging that they exist, but what’s still left to be done is figuring out what are the best strategies to actually get rid of those disparities. So I’m looking forward to seeing what people propose as possible solutions to that problem, and my activation tip for patients is to ask their oncologist what the recent updates in medical advancements and oncology treatments are. 

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The Role of Immunotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer or Relapse

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The Role of Immunotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer or Relapse from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

Breast cancer treatment may involve immunotherapy or targeted therapy, but what do patients need to know? Expert Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani discusses the roles of immunotherapy and targeted therapy and shares questions for patients to ask their doctor about immunotherapy.

Demetria Smith-Graziani, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Smith-Graziani.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…ask your oncologist about the standard of care or clinical trial options for the use of immunotherapy for your cancer, and if it would be beneficial to do any testing on your cancer to assess the benefit of immunotherapy.”

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See More from [ACT]IVATED Breast Cancer

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How Is Breast Cancer Explained to Newly Diagnosed Patients?
 
Emerging Treatments In Breast Cancer: Are Antibody Drug Conjugates Here to Stay?
 
 Pain Outcomes Among Black Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer After Mastectomy

Pain Outcomes Among Black Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer After Mastectomy

Transcript:

Lisa Hatfield:

Dr. Smith, what is the role of immunotherapy or targeted therapy in breast cancer, specifically those whose cancer has relapsed or is in advanced stages?

Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani:

Currently, we are using immunotherapy mostly for triple-negative breast cancer, for early stage breast cancer, that is not stage IV breast cancer,  we use immunotherapy sometimes in combination with chemotherapy for higher risk, triple-negative breast cancers to help reduce the risk of it coming back in the future.

We also use immunotherapy for metastatic or stage IV triple-negative breast cancer, specifically those cancers that are positive for a protein called PD-L1, we are also doing a number of clinical trials across the country and the world to figure out other situations in which we can use immunotherapy, whether without chemotherapy to treat other types of breast cancer, and my activation tip for patients is ask your oncologist about the standard of care or clinical trial options for the use of immunotherapy for your cancer, and if it would be beneficial to do any testing on your cancer to assess the benefit of immunotherapy.

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How Does Hormone Therapy Impact Breast Cancer Treatment?

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How Does Hormone Therapy Impact Breast Cancer Treatment? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo. 

For breast cancer patients who have been on hormone therapy, what do they need to know? Expert Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani explains how hormone therapy works, when it’s  most often used in the treatment process, and recommended questions for patients to ask their doctor.

Demetria Smith-Graziani, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Smith-Graziani.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…ask how long their formal and therapy is recommended and what potential side effects there are of their treatment.”

Download Guide  |   Descargar Guía en Español

See More from [ACT]IVATED Breast Cancer

Related Resources:

An Overview of Breast Cancer Subtypes | Tips for Being Proactive
 
 Pain Outcomes Among Black Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer After Mastectomy

Pain Outcomes Among Black Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer After Mastectomy

Transcript:

Lisa Hatfield:  

Dr. Smith, many women are on or have been on hormone therapy. How does hormone therapy play into breast cancer treatment?

Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani:

Okay, so for breast cancers that feed off hormones in your body, specifically breast cancers that are positive for the estrogen and progesterone receptors, we use anti-estrogen therapy to treat the breast cancer. And these are medications that lower the amount of estrogen in your body so that it no longer provides that food source to be cancer cells, and they will not grow and develop in the same way as if there is estrogen present.

We usually use this hormone therapy or anti-estrogen therapy after you’ve had treatment such as surgery or radiation or chemotherapy, and we usually keep patients on those medications for anywhere from five to 10 years to help reduce the risk of their breast cancer coming back up to 50 percent.

We also use hormone therapy for patients with stage IV or metastatic breast cancer as part of their long-term treatment, so my activation tip for patients is to ask how long their formal and therapy is recommended and what potential side effects there are of their treatment.

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Practical Questions About Breast Cancer Treatment Patients Should Ask

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Practical Questions About Breast Cancer Treatment Patients Should Ask from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

Breast cancer patients and healthcare providers can be partners in care, but what’s important to discuss? Expert Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani explains information that she presents to patients and shares common questions that patients ask.

Demetria Smith-Graziani, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Smith-Graziani.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…ask why a particular treatment is recommended, what the evidence is behind it, ask about the potential side effects and then ask about how the different treatment options compare if you’re given multiple options.”

Download Guide  |   Descargar Guía en Español

See More from [ACT]IVATED Breast Cancer

Related Resources:

Eliminating Disparities in Breast Cancer | Tips for Navigating Inequities
 
How Does Hormone Therapy Impact Breast Cancer Treatment?
 

Transcript:

Lisa Hatfield:

How do you work with your patients to make treatment decisions? With increasing treatment options, what should breast cancer patients consider when deciding on treatments?

Dr. Demetria Smith-Graziani:

So it’s important that patients are really informed about all of their options, so what I tend to do is review the details of diagnosis and staging, and then after we review that  I provide recommendations based on the national guidelines, and then I also provide recommendations for potential clinical trials that are available at our institution that may be a good fit for the patient, and then we discuss the potential risks and benefits of each option as well as how long each treatment will last and how it might affect their daily lives. 

I think that sometimes patients don’t always know what questions to ask, so I tend to suggest questions that I’ve heard in the past from other patients, and I think a lot of what patients want to know in addition to potential side effects are how long is my treatment meaning how long am I going to have to stay in the infusion center if I’m getting an IV medication? Or how many months of treatment do I need to get?

And then how much time do I need to take off of work? Am I going to be able to work while getting my treatment, so it’s those little things which aren’t so little that are important to discuss, so that the patients can get the best overall picture about how each treatment will affect them in the short and the long term, so my activation tip for patients is ask why a particular treatment is recommended, what the evidence is behind it, ask about the potential side effects and then ask about how the different treatment options compare if you’re given multiple options.

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