National Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Progress Report: Addressing the Recommendations of the Breast Cancer Progress Review Group

摘要

The report documents trends in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) breast cancer research portfolio from 1998 to 2003. Multiple measures of progress are presented at varying levels of specificity, ranging from overall trends in NCI funding, projects, and resulting peer-reviewed publications to more specific trends in the number of projects relevant to particular research priorities identified by the Progress Review Group (PRG). Between 1998 and 2003, NCI substantially expanded investments in breast cancer research, as evidenced by: Increasing breast cancer funding by nearly 60%, from $348.6 million in 1998 to $548.7 million in 2003. Increasing the number of relevant projects by 60%. Expanding ongoing and initiating new programs to sustain and advance both basic and clinical breast cancer research. Expanding the Breast Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) network from 4 to 10 sites. Expanding collaborative efforts, public-private partnerships, and shared resources to improve the capacity to conduct breast cancer clinical trials. During these years, new and innovative types of treatment, preventive measures, and diagnostic techniques have been developed and approved or are being studied in clinical trials, including: Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for the prevention of breast cancer in high-risk women. Aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole, exemestane) for treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Monoclonal antibodies (Herceptin) for treatment of tumors that express Her2/ErbB2. Sentinel node biopsy for less-invasive surgical diagnosis and prognosis. Lumpectomy with radiation as an equivalent alternative to mastectomy for certain stages of disease. Preoperative (neoadjuvant) therapy to reduce the size of large tumors, thereby allowing more women to undergo breast-conserving therapy.