Breast Cancer
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Jun 01 – Jun 08, 2026
Fovinaciclib for First-Line Therapy of Advanced Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
JAMA ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #14/326TOP-TIER
This phase 3 randomized clinical trial evaluated fovinaciclib plus an aromatase inhibitor as first-line therapy for 417 patients with hormone receptor-positive, ERBB2-negative advanced breast cancer. The fovinaciclib group demonstrated a significantly prolonged median progression-free survival compared to the placebo group (not reached vs 20.2 months; HR 0.55; P < .001). Clinically, the addition of fovinaciclib provides a meaningful efficacy benefit with a manageable safety profile and no detrimental impact on patient quality of life. These findings suggest fovinaciclib is a potent first-line treatment option for this specific oncological population.
10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.1938
International disruptions to cancer diagnosis and stage at presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: an International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP) population-based study.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This population-based study analyzed 2.6 million patients across seven countries to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the incidence and staging of seven major cancer types in 2020. Researchers found that 16% (55,713) of expected cancer cases were missing between April and December 2020, with the highest deficits occurring in prostate (24%), breast (18%), and melanoma (18%) diagnoses. The data reveals significant regional variations, such as a 54% deficit in UK prostate cancer cases, highlighting critical gaps in screening and diagnostic access during lockdowns. These findings underscore a pressing clinical need to address diagnostic backlogs and monitor for potential stage shifts in patients whose diagnoses were delayed by pandemic-related healthcare barriers.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00089-6
A Randomized Phase III Trial of Anthracyclines Followed by Taxane versus Taxane Plus Carboplatin as (Neo)Adjuvant Therapy in Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: KCSG BR 15-1 PEARLY Trial.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This multicenter, randomized phase III trial evaluated the efficacy of adding carboplatin to standard anthracycline-taxane chemotherapy in 868 patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). At a 57.2-month median follow-up, the carboplatin arm significantly improved 5-year event-free survival from 75.1% to 82.3% (HR 0.67; 95% CI: 0.49-0.92; P=0.012). While grade 3 or higher adverse events were more frequent with carboplatin (74.7% vs. 56.7%), secondary endpoints like overall survival showed positive trends without compromising quality of life. These results support incorporating carboplatin into (neo)adjuvant regimens for early TNBC to improve long-term clinical outcomes despite increased hematological toxicity.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.05.703
Low-Dose Tamoxifen in Noninvasive Breast Neoplasia: Long-Term Results From an Individual-Participant Data Pooled Analysis.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This pooled analysis evaluated low-dose tamoxifen (5 mg daily or 10 mg every other day) versus control for preventing breast cancer events in 1,545 women with ER-positive/unknown DCIS, microinvasive carcinoma, or high-risk lesions over a median 9.4 years. Low-dose tamoxifen significantly reduced overall breast cancer events, particularly in postmenopausal women (HR, 0.51; 10-year absolute reduction of 11.2%). Although no overall reduction was seen in premenopausal women, contralateral breast cancer was reduced (HR, 0.45), with infrequent serious adverse events. These findings are highly relevant for clinicians managing breast cancer risk, supporting endocrine dose de-escalation to improve the benefit-risk profile for prevention in DCIS and high-risk lesions.
10.1200/JCO-26-00841
Impact of Population-Based Pathogenic Variant Testing on Risk-Based Breast Screening Recommendations: A Secondary Analysis of the WISDOM Study.
JAMA ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #14/326TOP-TIER
This cohort study, a secondary analysis of the WISDOM trial, evaluated how many pathogenic variant (PV) carriers in breast cancer genes would be recommended for high-risk screening based on clinical risk or clinical plus polygenic risk models. Among 712 women with PVs, including 232 high-penetrance carriers, only 0.9% of high-penetrance PV carriers would have received the same high-risk screening assignment based on clinical plus polygenic risk. Furthermore, 63.8% of PV carriers aged 40-49 and 88.9% aged 50-74 would have been recommended less intensive screening. These findings highlight that population-based PV testing identifies a distinct subset of high-risk women for breast cancer, underscoring its importance in risk-based screening strategies.
10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.2091
May 25 – Jun 01, 2026
Updated Results of the POSITIVE (Pregnancy Outcome and Safety of Interrupting Therapy for Women with Endocrine Responsive Breast Cancer) Trial.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This single-arm prospective trial (POSITIVE) evaluated temporary interruption of adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for up to 2 years to allow pregnancy in 518 women under 42 with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. At a median follow-up of 71 months, 5-year breast cancer-free interval events were 12.3% in POSITIVE versus 13.2% in matched SOFT/TEXT controls (difference -0.9%; CI -4.2 to 2.6%), and distant recurrence-free interval events were 6.2% vs 8.3% (difference -2.1%; CI -4.5 to 0.4%). Among 497 women, 76% had at least one pregnancy and 69% had at least one live birth, with 440 offspring. These updated results confirm that temporarily pausing ET for pregnancy does not increase short-term cancer recurrence risk, supporting shared decision-making in young patients desiring pregnancy.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.05.699
Circulating Tumor DNA in Early Breast Cancer: A Review.
JAMA ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #14/326TOP-TIER
This review summarizes current data on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) minimal residual disease (MRD) assays in early breast cancer, evaluating their potential as a noninvasive biomarker. Key findings indicate ctDNA dynamics during neoadjuvant therapy are associated with pathologic complete response, and post-treatment ctDNA positivity strongly correlates with future distant recurrence. While ctDNA assays show established analytical and clinical validity, their optimal clinical utility and impact on patient outcomes through guided management remain uncertain. The study emphasizes that ctDNA holds promise for refining risk stratification and earlier recurrence detection in early breast cancer, but prospective interventional trials are essential to demonstrate improved outcomes.
10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.1465
Predicting neoadjuvant breast cancer therapy response using BRIDGE from tumor transcriptomics and histopathology.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This study developed BRIDGE, a computational framework, to predict pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant breast cancer therapy by analyzing pre-treatment tumor transcriptomics and histopathology. Trained on 10 and tested on 24 datasets, BRIDGE outperformed commercial signatures, achieving ROC-AUCs of 0.84 (OR=8) in ER+/HER2- tumors, 0.77 (OR=8.3) in HER2+, and 0.73 (OR=3.1) in TNBC. A histology-based version, BRIDGE-Slide, also showed superior performance, offering a potential fast, low-cost biomarker. This framework directly addresses a critical need in cancer management by enabling early, personalized treatment decisions for breast cancer patients.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.05.700
May 18 – May 25, 2026
Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) in combination with durvalumab as first-line treatment for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: results from arms 7 and 8 of the phase Ib/II BEGONIA study.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This phase Ib/II study evaluated the safety and efficacy of datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) combined with durvalumab as first-line treatment for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. In Arm 7 (all PD-L1 levels), the confirmed objective response rate (cORR) was 79.0% with a median progression-free survival of 14.0 months, while Arm 8 (PD-L1-high) showed a cORR of 81.8%. These results demonstrate substantial and durable antitumor activity with a manageable safety profile, regardless of PD-L1 expression status. This combination therapy offers a promising first-line clinical strategy for improving outcomes in a high-need oncological population.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.05.693
Longitudinal transcriptomic profiling identifies predictors of response to neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer: results from the NeoTRIPaPDL1 trial.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This phase III trial analyzed longitudinal transcriptomic profiles from 280 patients with high-risk triple-negative breast cancer to identify predictors of response to neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. Researchers found that baseline high proliferation and low metabolic signatures, alongside early on-treatment immune activation and tumor clearance, strongly predicted pathologic complete response (pCR). Specifically, the absence of tumor cells in early biopsies served as a robust surrogate for surgical pCR across both treatment arms. These findings suggest that integrating baseline tumor-intrinsic features with early treatment-induced microenvironment remodeling can guide response-adapted neoadjuvant strategies in clinical oncology.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.05.694
Survival Analysis of the WSG TP-II Trial: Neoadjuvant Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab Plus Endocrine Therapy Versus Chemotherapy in Hormone Receptor-Positive/Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Early Breast Cancer.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
The WSG TP-II trial compared neoadjuvant trastuzumab and pertuzumab plus endocrine therapy versus chemotherapy in 207 patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-positive early breast cancer, followed for 5 years. The paclitaxel arm achieved a superior pathologic complete response rate of 56.4% compared to 23.7% in the endocrine therapy arm. At 5 years, overall survival was 100% in the ET arm versus 97.9% in the paclitaxel arm, with invasive disease-free survival rates of 97.7% versus 79.8% respectively. This study confirms excellent survival outcomes with de-escalated neoadjuvant therapy, supporting pCR-guided adjuvant strategies for this specific breast cancer subtype.
10.1200/JCO-25-01047
Real-world heart and lung doses from 30 000 National Health Service radiotherapy treatment plans in England: a national audit of breast radiotherapy practice.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This national audit characterized real-world heart and lung doses in routine breast radiotherapy across 48 NHS centers in England, analyzing 26,236 anonymized plans. For breast-only treatments, median mean heart doses were 0.57 Gy (left) and 0.25 Gy (right), with over 99% below 2 Gy, while nodal plans had higher median MHDs (3.3 Gy left, 2.3 Gy right), with 98.3% meeting the 6 Gy constraint. Most plans met optimal lung dose constraints, though volumetric-modulated arc therapy delivered superior target coverage but higher MHDs. This study provides crucial real-world data on breast cancer radiotherapy safety, identifying opportunities for quality improvement in practice.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00185-3
Twenty-year results of the randomized European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer trial 22922/10925 evaluating internal mammary chain and medial supraclavicular lymph node irradiation in stage I-III breast cancer.
CA-CANCER J CLIN · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/326TOP-TIER
This randomized trial evaluated the 20-year impact of internal mammary and medial supraclavicular lymph node irradiation (IM-MS-RT) in 4,004 patients with stage I-III breast cancer. While IM-MS-RT significantly reduced breast cancer mortality (18.6% vs. 22.4%; HR 0.82, p=.006), it did not improve overall survival (61.0% vs. 61.8%; HR 1.00, p=.967) due to a concurrent increase in non-cancer deaths. The treatment was associated with higher rates of lung and cardiac fibrosis, as well as cardiac disease (15.2% vs. 11.7%), particularly emerging after 15 years of follow-up. These findings suggest that the oncological benefits of regional nodal irradiation may be offset by long-term treatment-related toxicities, highlighting the necessity for very long-term monitoring in breast cancer survivors.
10.3322/caac.70082
Preclinical characterization and phase 1 results of TQB2102, a first-in-class HER2 biparatopic antibody-drug conjugate, in patients with advanced solid tumors.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This phase 1, first-in-human trial evaluated the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of TQB2102, a novel HER2 biparatopic ADC, in 195 patients with advanced solid tumors, primarily metastatic breast, colorectal, and gastric/GEJ cancers. The study found a manageable safety profile with no DLTs and MTD not reached, establishing 6.0 and 7.5 mg/kg as RP2D. Preliminary antitumor activity was observed, with objective response rates of 52.4% in MBC, 38.7% in CRC, and 40.0% in G/GEJ adenocarcinoma, including 47.2% in HER2-low MBC. These findings suggest TQB2102 is a promising therapeutic agent for advanced HER2-expressing solid tumors, warranting further investigation in a phase 3 trial for HER2-low MBC.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.05.003
May 11 – May 18, 2026
Hypofractionated breast radiotherapy for 1 week versus 3 weeks (FAST-Forward): 10-year efficacy and late normal tissue effects from a multicentre, open-label, non-inferiority, phase 3, randomised controlled trial and 5-year efficacy results from a randomised axillary substudy.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
The FAST-Forward phase 3 randomized controlled trial investigated the 10-year efficacy and late normal tissue effects of 1-week hypofractionated adjuvant radiotherapy (26 Gy or 27 Gy in five fractions) versus standard 3-week (40 Gy in 15 fractions) for early-stage breast cancer, including a 5-year axillary substudy. With a median 10.1-year follow-up for 4087 participants, 10-year ipsilateral breast recurrence was 3.6% (40 Gy), 2.9% (27 Gy), and 2.1% (26 Gy). Clinician-reported moderate or marked breast/chest wall effects were 13.1% (40 Gy), 19.3% (27 Gy), and 14.4% (26 Gy). The 26 Gy schedule demonstrated non-inferior efficacy and similar normal tissue effects, supporting its use as a standard of care for breast or chest wall radiotherapy.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00076-8
Concurrent Versus Sequential Radiation Dose Escalation to the Surgical Cavity for Conservative Treatment of High-Risk Early Breast Cancer: NRG/RTOG 1005 Phase III Trial.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This phase III trial (NRG/RTOG 1005) randomized 2,255 high-risk early breast cancer patients to compare concurrent radiation boost (40 Gy in 15 fractions) against sequential boost (50/42.7 Gy plus 12/14 Gy) following lumpectomy. At 7.3 years median follow-up, 5-year ipsilateral breast recurrence (IBR) was 1.9% for concurrent versus 2.1% for sequential arms, meeting noninferiority criteria (HR 1.31, 90% CI 0.84-2.04). The study demonstrates that concurrent boost delivery maintains oncologic control and cosmetic outcomes while significantly reducing overall treatment duration for cancer patients. Clinicians can adopt concurrent boost protocols as a standard, more efficient alternative to sequential dosing without compromising safety or survival in high-risk breast cancer populations.
10.1200/JCO-25-02465
May 04 – May 11, 2026
A chemotherapy-free, pathological response-adapted strategy using trastuzumab-pertuzumab and T-DM1 in HER2-positive early breast cancer: the PHERGain-2 study.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This phase II study evaluated a chemotherapy-free, pathological complete response (pCR)-guided strategy using neoadjuvant trastuzumab-pertuzumab followed by response-adapted adjuvant therapy in 396 patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer. Results showed a high pCR rate of 59.6%, with a 1-year health-related quality of life decline observed in 42.8% of the total population. The strategy demonstrated manageable toxicity, with only 5.6% of patients experiencing grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events. These findings suggest that a chemotherapy-free approach can achieve pCR rates comparable to standard regimens while preserving quality of life, offering a potential de-escalation path for selected node-negative patients.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.01.013
Tumor-Infiltrating Clonal Hematopoiesis and Pan-Cancer Prognosis in Patients With Solid Tumors.
JAMA ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #14/326TOP-TIER
This retrospective cohort study analyzed whole-genome sequencing data from 10,571 patients with solid tumors to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic impact of tumor-infiltrating clonal hematopoiesis (TI-CH). TI-CH was identified in 18.38% of patients, occurring most frequently in endometrial cancer (32%) and correlating with older age and prior cytotoxic chemotherapy. Results demonstrated that TI-CH is significantly associated with worse pan-cancer overall survival (HR 1.13), with particularly high risk observed in breast cancer patients (HR 1.95) and those with GATA2 variants (HR 3.00). These findings suggest that TI-CH serves as a valuable prognostic biomarker across various solid tumors, potentially refining risk stratification and personalized treatment strategies in oncology.
10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.1036
Effects of ovarian ablation or suppression on breast cancer recurrence and survival: patient-level meta-analysis of 15 000 women in 23 randomised trials.
LANCET · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/332TOP-TIER
This patient-level meta-analysis of 23 randomized trials involving 15,075 premenopausal women evaluated the impact of ovarian function suppression (OFS) on recurrence and mortality in estrogen receptor-positive early breast cancer. OFS significantly reduced recurrence rates (RR 0.82, p<0.00001), with the most pronounced benefits observed in women under 45 years receiving OFS plus tamoxifen (RR 0.73 for recurrence; RR 0.74 for breast cancer mortality). The findings demonstrate that OFS provides additional protection against recurrence and death even when chemotherapy or tamoxifen is administered, particularly for younger patients. Clinicians should consider OFS as a standard component of adjuvant therapy for premenopausal women with ER-positive disease to improve 15-year survival outcomes.
10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00313-2
Apr 27 – May 04, 2026
CDK4/6 inhibitors plus endocrine therapy versus endocrine monotherapy in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer: a reconstructed individual patient data meta-analysis of phase 3 randomised controlled trials.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This reconstructed individual patient data meta-analysis evaluated CDK4/6 inhibitors plus endocrine therapy versus endocrine monotherapy for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, pooling data from 11 phase 3 trials (6035 patients). CDK4/6 inhibitors significantly improved progression-free survival in both endocrine-sensitive (HR 0.57, p<0.0001) and endocrine-resistant cancers (HR 0.51, p<0.0001). Overall survival was also improved in endocrine-sensitive (HR 0.83, p=0.0005) and endocrine-resistant (HR 0.77, p=0.0003) subgroups. While all agents improved PFS, only abemaciclib (HR 0.79, p=0.0031) and ribociclib (HR 0.73, p<0.0001) showed significant overall survival benefits. This study provides robust evidence supporting the use of CDK4/6 inhibitors in advanced breast cancer, guiding treatment decisions.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00053-7
An agentic framework for autonomous scientific discovery in cancer pathology.
NAT MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/195TOP-TIER
This study introduces SPARK, an agentic AI framework that uses natural language to autonomously generate biologically driven analytical tools for tumor pathology without extra model training. Evaluated across 18 cohorts with over 5,400 patients spanning five cancer types, SPARK produced clinically relevant concepts correlated with prognosis, pathological variables, and predictive biomarkers, including inferred tumor progression from static images. The framework directly addresses the clinician’s interest in cancer-focused research by demonstrating applicability in lung, colorectal, breast, and oropharyngeal cancers, with evidence of prognostic and predictive value. Primary implications include potential to enhance diagnostic precision and biological insight, though prospective clinical validation is still needed before routine use.
10.1038/s41591-026-04357-y
Lymph node surgery and CDK4/6 inhibitors in early breast cancer: a pooled analysis from five randomised trials.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This pooled analysis of five randomized trials involving 19,541 patients evaluated whether omitting axillary surgery in early breast cancer impacts eligibility for adjuvant CDK4/6 inhibitors. Results showed that performing sentinel lymph node biopsy or completion axillary dissection solely for drug eligibility requires high numbers needed to diagnose and treat, such as 345 and 807 surgeries respectively to prevent one death at five years. The study highlights that while surgery provides staging data, the associated morbidity and costs outweigh the marginal overall survival benefits gained from subsequent CDK4/6 inhibition. Clinicians should consider these findings when balancing surgical de-escalation against the potential benefits of intensified systemic therapy in early-stage breast cancer management.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00064-1
Safety and antitumour activity of ipatasertib combined with endocrine therapy and a CDK4/6 inhibitor in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (TAKTIC): a single-centre, open-label, phase 1b trial.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This phase 1b, single-centre trial (TAKTIC) evaluated the safety and preliminary antitumour activity of ipatasertib combined with endocrine therapy (fulvestrant or AI) with or without palbociclib in 77 heavily pretreated women with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. The recommended phase 2 dose for the triple combination was established, yielding a median progression-free survival of 5.5 months (95% CI 3.8-7.4). Common grade 3-4 adverse events included neutropenia (39%), leukopenia (19%), and diarrhoea (18%). These findings demonstrate preliminary clinical activity and an expected safety profile, directly addressing the need for new strategies in advanced breast cancer and warranting further evaluation in CDK4/6 inhibitor-refractory disease.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00059-8
Apr 20 – Apr 27, 2026
Including tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes into the PREDICT prognostic model for triple-negative breast cancer survival.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This study aimed to integrate stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) into the PREDICT prognostic model for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) to refine chemotherapy decisions. Utilizing a Cox regression model on 3698 TNBC patients, the updated PREDICT_sTILs model demonstrated strong internal-external validity with pooled O/E ratios of 0.98 at 5 years and 0.99 at 10 years, and AUCs of 0.74. Compared to PREDICT, it identified 19-60 additional net true low-risk and 3-10 additional net true high-risk patients per 1000 chemotherapy-naïve patients. This enhancement improves chemotherapy guidance for early-stage TNBC, particularly in identifying low-risk individuals who may safely forgo treatment, directly impacting cancer management.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.04.011
Durvalumab in Combination With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Early Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Long-Term Analysis From the GeparNuevo Trial.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This phase II trial evaluated the long-term efficacy of adding durvalumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 174 patients with early triple-negative breast cancer. At 86.4 months median follow-up, durvalumab significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (HR 0.56), distant disease-free survival (HR 0.41), and overall survival (HR 0.33) compared to placebo. Exploratory analyses revealed a pronounced benefit for patients with nodal involvement and highlighted the prognostic value of stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in residual disease. These findings suggest that neoadjuvant durvalumab provides sustained survival benefits without the need for adjuvant checkpoint inhibition, potentially refining standard treatment protocols for early-stage breast cancer.
10.1200/JCO-25-02311
Clinical and molecular biomarkers for prediction of endocrine response after short preoperative endocrine therapy in the WSG ADAPT-HR+/HER2- and ADAPTcycle trials (N=7914).
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This study analyzed 7,914 patients from the WSG ADAPT-HR+/HER2- and ADAPTcycle phase III trials to identify predictors of endocrine therapy (ET) response, defined as Ki67 ≤10% after 2-4 weeks of preoperative treatment. Results showed significantly higher ET-response rates with aromatase inhibitors (76.7-81.4%) compared to tamoxifen (34.7-40.1%), with ovarian function suppression further improving outcomes in premenopausal women to levels comparable with postmenopausal patients. For clinicians treating breast cancer, the study demonstrates that ET-responders with high recurrence scores (RS >25) achieved a 5-year disease-free survival of 87.0% compared to 80.7% in non-responders. These findings suggest that combining short-term ET-response with genomic testing can effectively identify luminal early breast cancer patients who may safely avoid chemotherapy.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.04.007
Apr 13 – Apr 20, 2026
18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography for Estimating Outcomes After Initial Treatment for Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Nonrandomized Clinical Cohort Trial.
JAMA ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #14/326TOP-TIER
This multicenter clinical cohort trial evaluated the utility of early 18F-FDG PET imaging at two weeks compared to standard CT at eight weeks for estimating outcomes in 200 patients with newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer. Results demonstrated that early FDG-PET had a 94.7% negative predictive value for disease progression on subsequent CT, with patients showing non-progression on early PET achieving significantly longer median progression-free survival (19.4 vs. 4.1 months) and overall survival (39.4 vs. 18.5 months). The study highlights that metabolic changes detected via PET just two weeks after starting first-line therapy can accurately identify patients with distinct long-term prognoses across all breast cancer subtypes. Incorporating early FDG-PET into clinical practice allows for more rapid assessment of treatment efficacy, potentially enabling earlier adjustments to systemic therapy and reducing the burden of ineffective treatments.
10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.0767
Genomic Determinants of Response to Alpelisib Plus Fulvestrant in the SOLAR-1 Trial.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This retrospective analysis utilized tissue-based next-generation sequencing from 398 patients in the SOLAR-1 trial to identify genomic determinants of response to alpelisib plus fulvestrant in PIK3CA-altered, HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer. In the PIK3CA-altered cohort, alpelisib plus fulvestrant significantly improved median progression-free survival (mPFS) to 11.01 months compared to 5.55 months for placebo, with notable benefits observed in patients with FGFR1 (12.71 vs. 3.75 months) and FGFR2 alterations. The study highlights that while the combination therapy is effective across various genomic profiles, factors such as PTEN or TP53 alterations and prior CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment were identified as deleterious to treatment outcomes. These findings suggest that genomic profiling can help clinicians refine prognosis and treatment expectations for patients with PIK3CA-mutated breast cancer receiving targeted PI3K inhibition.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.04.003
Apr 06 – Apr 13, 2026
Datopotamab deruxtecan in patients with untreated, advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TROPION-Breast02): a randomised, open-label, international, phase III trial.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
The TROPION-Breast02 trial was a randomized, open-label, international phase III study evaluating datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) versus investigator’s choice of chemotherapy in 644 patients with previously untreated, advanced triple-negative breast cancer ineligible for immunotherapy. Dato-DXd significantly improved median progression-free survival (10.8 months vs 5.6 months; HR 0.57, P < 0.0001) and median overall survival (23.7 months vs 18.7 months; HR 0.79, P = 0.029) compared to chemotherapy. These findings are highly relevant as they introduce a potentially superior first-line treatment for a challenging cancer, directly aligning with the interest in cancer research. Dato-DXd offers a new, effective therapeutic option for patients with advanced TNBC who have limited treatment choices, potentially improving prognosis and extending survival in this population.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.03.008
Mar 30 – Apr 06, 2026
Interpretation of constitutional cancer predisposition gene variants in 14 765 individuals in the 100 000 Genomes Project cancer arm: a retrospective cohort analysis.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This retrospective cohort study assessed the frequency and nature of constitutional variants in 109 cancer predisposition genes among 14,765 patients with cancer in the UK health-care system. Key findings revealed that 711 (5%) participants harbored a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant, with CHEK2 (0.82%) and BRCA2 (0.75%) being the most common, and ovarian cancer showing the highest proportion (9%) among specific tumor types. These results are highly relevant for clinicians as they provide a comprehensive understanding of the genetic landscape in cancer patients, informing genetic testing strategies and risk stratification. The study underscores the implications of more expansive genetic testing and the necessity of robust variant interpretation to optimize patient benefit and guide clinical service planning.
10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00766-1
Clonal Hematopoiesis and Risk of Trastuzumab-Related Cardiotoxic Effects.
JAMA ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #14/326TOP-TIER
This study utilized large-scale human cohorts and animal models to investigate whether Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential (CHIP) increases the risk of cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab. Results demonstrated that CHIP-positive patients had a significantly higher 2-year cumulative incidence of cardiotoxicity compared to CHIP-negative patients (15.7% vs 5.0% per ESC criteria), with an adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio of 1.91. The findings identify CHIP as a potent independent risk factor for trastuzumab-related heart failure, a result further supported by a significant 4.2% reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction observed in Tet2-deficient mice. These implications suggest that CHIP status could serve as a critical biomarker for risk stratification and cardiovascular monitoring in patients undergoing HER2-targeted cancer therapy.
10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.0455
Mar 16 – Mar 23, 2026
AI-based triage and decision support in mammography and digital tomosynthesis for breast cancer screening: a paired, noninferiority trial.
NAT MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/195TOP-TIER
This prospective, paired, noninferiority clinical trial evaluated an AI system’s ability to safely reduce radiologist workload in breast cancer screening while maintaining or improving outcomes. The AI strategy significantly reduced radiologist workload by 63.6% and increased the cancer detection rate by 15.2% (from 6.3 to 7.3 per 1,000, P < 0.001), though it also resulted in a 14.8% higher recall rate. These findings are highly relevant to cancer care, demonstrating that AI can enhance the primary goal of screening—identifying more cancers—while improving efficiency. The study supports the feasibility of integrating partially automated AI workflows into breast cancer screening programs to improve detection rates and optimize resource allocation.
10.1038/s41591-026-04277-x
Bireociclib Plus Fulvestrant in Advanced Breast Cancer After Endocrine Progression: The BRIGHT-2 Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial.
JAMA ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #14/326TOP-TIER
The BRIGHT-2 Phase 3 randomized clinical trial evaluated bireociclib plus fulvestrant versus placebo plus fulvestrant in 305 patients with HR-positive, ERBB2-negative advanced breast cancer after endocrine therapy progression. The study found that bireociclib plus fulvestrant significantly prolonged investigator-assessed progression-free survival (median PFS, 14.7 months [95% CI, 11.1-20.2] vs 7.3 months [95% CI, 5.5-11.0]; HR, 0.54; P < .001) and increased the objective response rate (45.6% [95% CI, 38.6-52.7] vs 14.9% [95% CI, 8.6-23.3]). These findings are highly relevant for clinicians focused on cancer, providing a new, effective treatment option for advanced breast cancer patients. The study confirms bireociclib plus fulvestrant as a manageable therapeutic strategy for this specific patient population, improving disease control.
10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.0318
Pyrotinib or placebo in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel for HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer: long term survival results from randomised phase 3 PHILA trial.
BMJ-BRIT MED J · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #5/332TOP-TIER
This phase 3 PHILA trial evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of adding pyrotinib to a trastuzumab and docetaxel regimen in 590 patients with untreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Results demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival (22.1 vs. 10.5 months; HR 0.44) and a reduced risk of death (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.89) compared to the placebo group. For clinicians treating oncology patients, these findings establish a potent dual anti-HER2 strategy that significantly extends survival outcomes in the first-line setting. The study reinforces the use of pyrotinib-based triple therapy as a superior treatment strategy for sustaining long-term survival without introducing new safety signals during extended follow-up.
10.1136/bmj-2025-087259
OPTIMAL: A Multinational Phase III Study of Oral Paclitaxel (DHP107) versus Intravenous Weekly Paclitaxel in HER2-Negative Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This multinational, open-label, randomized phase III non-inferiority trial compared oral DHP107 to intravenous paclitaxel in 549 patients with HER2-negative recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. DHP107 demonstrated non-inferiority in progression-free survival (PFS) with a median of 10.0 months versus 8.5 months for IV paclitaxel (HR, 0.869; 95% CI, 0.707-1.068), and comparable overall survival (OS) of 32.6 months versus 31.8 months (HR 0.967; 95% CI, 0.762-1.227). The study directly addresses cancer treatment by evaluating an alternative chemotherapy delivery method for advanced breast cancer, a significant area of oncology. DHP107 offers an effective and convenient oral alternative to IV paclitaxel for HER2-negative breast cancer, potentially improving patient experience and treatment accessibility.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.03.002
Mar 09 – Mar 16, 2026
Deep learning on histopathological images to predict breast cancer recurrence risk and chemotherapy benefit: a multicentre, model development and validation study.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This multicentre study developed and validated a multimodal deep-learning model using digital whole-slide images and clinical features from over 13,000 patients to predict Oncotype DX recurrence scores in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer. The model demonstrated high accuracy in identifying high genomic-risk disease (AUC 0.898) and was significantly prognostic for recurrence-free intervals (HR 2.61), while successfully identifying premenopausal patients who benefit from chemotherapy (HR 0.63). By reclassifying 31.3% of clinically high-risk postmenopausal women as low AI-risk with no chemotherapy benefit, the tool offers a scalable alternative to expensive genomic assays. These findings suggest that AI-integrated histopathology can broaden access to precision oncology and reduce unnecessary chemotherapy, particularly in resource-limited settings where traditional genomic testing is unavailable.
10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00727-2
The Pathologic Response Evaluation and Detection in Circulating Tumor-DNA Study: Ultrasensitive Circulating Tumor-DNA Assessment of Breast Cancer Minimal Residual Disease.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This prospective multicenter study evaluated the utility of an ultrasensitive, tumor-informed circulating tumor-DNA (ctDNA) assay for assessing pathologic complete response (pCR) and prognosis in 227 patients with stage II/III HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant therapy. While the assay failed to meet its primary objective of predicting pCR with a negative predictive value ≥90% (actual NPV 60%), detectable ctDNA after neoadjuvant therapy was strongly associated with recurrence (HR 8.9, p=.001). Post-surgical ctDNA detection identified patients at extreme risk of recurrence (HR 128, p<.001), whereas ctDNA-negative patients demonstrated a 94% 5-year invasive disease-free survival rate. These results suggest that while ctDNA cannot replace pathologic evaluation for treatment response, it provides superior prognostic stratification that could guide future therapeutic escalation or de-escalation strategies in breast cancer management.
10.1200/JCO-25-02934
VIKTORIA-1 Trial of Gedatolisib Plus Fulvestrant With or Without Palbociclib in Hormone Receptor-Positive/HER2-/PIK3CA Wild-Type Advanced Breast Cancer.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
The VIKTORIA-1 trial, a phase III randomized study, evaluated gedatolisib-based therapies (triplet with palbociclib and fulvestrant, or doublet with fulvestrant) against fulvestrant monotherapy in 392 patients with HR+/HER2-/PIK3CA WT advanced breast cancer progressing after CDK4/6 inhibitor and aromatase inhibitor treatment. The gedatolisib triplet significantly improved median progression-free survival (PFS) to 9.3 months (HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.17-0.35; p < .001) compared to 2.0 months for fulvestrant, while the doublet achieved 7.4 months PFS (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.24-0.48; p < .001) versus fulvestrant. This study directly addresses the clinician’s interest in cancer research by demonstrating improved outcomes for a specific advanced breast cancer population. The findings suggest that adding gedatolisib to fulvestrant, with or without palbociclib, offers a new effective treatment option for these patients, despite notable grade ≥3 TRAEs like neutropenia (62.3% triplet) and stomatitis (19.2% triplet).
10.1200/JCO-25-02643
5-year results of hypofractionated locoregional radiotherapy in early breast cancer HypoG-01 (UNICANCER): a French multicentre, randomised, non-inferiority, phase 3, open-label, controlled trial.
LANCET · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/332TOP-TIER
This multicentre, phase 3, non-inferiority trial (HypoG-01) evaluated whether a 3-week hypofractionated radiotherapy course (40 Gy in 15 fractions) is non-inferior to the standard 5-week course (50 Gy in 25 fractions) for patients with early breast cancer requiring nodal irradiation. Results from 1,221 patients showed that the 3-week regimen was non-inferior regarding arm lymphoedema risk (HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.79–1.31), with 3-year cumulative incidences of 23.4% and 22.2% respectively. For clinicians focused on oncology, this study provides high-level evidence that shorter treatment durations do not increase the risk of significant morbidity like lymphoedema or grade 3 or worse adverse events (8% vs 13%). These findings support the adoption of hypofractionated locoregional radiotherapy as a safe, more efficient standard of care for early breast cancer management.
10.1016/S0140-6736(25)02597-8
Mar 02 – Mar 09, 2026
Global, regional, and national burden of breast cancer among females, 1990-2023, with forecasts to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 aimed to provide an updated comprehensive assessment of breast cancer epidemiological trends, disease burden, and risk factors among females globally from 1990 to 2023, with forecasts to 2050, using various mortality and prevalence estimation models across 204 countries. In 2023, there were an estimated 2.30 million (95% UI 2.01 to 2.61) incident cases and 764,000 (672,000 to 854,000) deaths globally, with significant disparities showing a 147.2% (38.1 to 271.7) increase in age-standardized incidence rate in low-income groups versus a 29.9% (-33.6 to -25.9) decrease in mortality in high-income groups between 1990 and 2023. The study directly addresses the clinician’s interest in cancer by focusing entirely on breast cancer, providing critical epidemiological context regarding its global burden, trends, and the impact of health system strengths or deficits on outcomes. The findings highlight the success of screening, diagnosis, and treatment in high-income nations, while underscoring the urgent need for effective interventions in low-income regions to address rising incidence and mortality, prevent exacerbation of health inequalities, and meet global targets for mortality reduction.
10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00730-2
Financial Hardship Before Diagnosis: Influence on Late-Stage Cancer Presentation and the Role of Screening.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This case-control study investigated the relationship between prediagnosis financial hardship (FH) and late-stage cancer diagnosis across various solid tumors, specifically examining the mediating role of screening in breast cancer, using linked SEER registry, credit, and claims data from 50,148 adult cancer patients. Findings revealed that 30% of patients experienced FH, which was associated with a 14% higher probability of late-stage diagnosis (adjusted risk ratio, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.11 to 1.17]), with a stronger association for cancers with organized screening (aRR, 1.25). For breast cancer, 70% of the increased risk of late-stage diagnosis was attributable to nonreceipt of screening. This research directly informs oncology practice by highlighting financial hardship as a significant social determinant influencing cancer stage at diagnosis, particularly for screenable cancers, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to improve cancer screening access and address socioeconomic barriers to early diagnosis.
10.1200/JCO-25-01360
Phase II Clinical Study of Adebrelimab and Bevacizumab Combined With Cisplatin/Carboplatin in Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer With Brain Metastases (ABC Study).
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This Phase II clinical trial investigated a triple combination therapy of adebrelimab, bevacizumab, and cisplatin/carboplatin in 35 patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and active brain metastases. The study reported a confirmed CNS objective response rate of 77.1% (27/35) and a CNS clinical benefit rate of 80.0% (28/35), with a median CNS-PFS of 10.3 months and median OS of 21.1 months. These findings demonstrate promising intracranial antitumor activity and prolonged survival outcomes for a highly lethal form of cancer, directly addressing a critical need in oncology. The regimen shows a manageable safety profile and warrants further investigation as a potential new treatment option for TNBC patients with brain metastases.
10.1200/JCO-25-02021
Trastuzumab deruxtecan in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-low/-ultralow metastatic breast cancer (DESTINY-Breast06): outcome analyses by time to progression on prior first-line endocrine therapy with CDK4/6 inhibitor and baseline burden of disease.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This post hoc analysis of the DESTINY-Breast06 trial evaluated the efficacy of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) compared to physician’s choice of chemotherapy in 866 patients with HR+, HER2-low/ultralow metastatic breast cancer. T-DXd significantly improved median progression-free survival across all subgroups, including those with rapid progression on prior endocrine therapy (14.0 vs. 6.5 months for TTP <6 months) and those with high baseline disease burden. The study directly addresses the clinical need for effective oncology treatments by demonstrating superior objective response rates for T-DXd (up to 67.7%) compared to standard chemotherapy (up to 37.5%). These findings imply that T-DXd should be considered a preferred treatment option for this cancer population regardless of prior endocrine resistance or visceral involvement.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.02.015
Nationwide Mammographic Screening Among a Large Population of Underserved Subgroups.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This national longitudinal study utilized the OptumLabs Data Warehouse to compare screening mammography adherence rates among 10,478 transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals and over 6 million cisgender women. High screening adherence (>75% of recommended screenings) was observed in 41.1% of transgender men and 38.3% of cisgender women, while rates were significantly lower for transgender women (7.4%) and those with gender dysphoria (11.9%). For the clinician focused on cancer, the data reveals that transgender men aged 40-59 have higher odds of screening adherence than matched cisgender women (OR 1.38–1.57), suggesting effective targeting of high-risk groups. These findings imply that while progress is being made in screening underserved populations, significant gaps remain in preventive oncology care for specific gender-diverse subgroups.
10.1200/JCO-25-01659