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Highlights from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

January 10, 2020

Sharon Wilks, M.D., FACP, medical oncologist at Texas Oncology-San Antonio Northeast, recently attended the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, an annual meeting of clinicians and scientists focused on breast cancer.

What are some highlights from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium this year?

There was a lot of discussion around the evolution of cancerous tumors and how they grow, or mutate, from a primary breast cancer to metastatic breast cancer. Many of the reports we saw at the symposium also suggest better understanding of tumor growth and metastases, which may lead to more successful ways to fight cancer.

Many of the reports we saw at the symposium suggest better understanding of tumor growth and metastases, which may lead to more successful ways to fight cancer.”

How many times have you attended the symposium?

I have been going to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium for more than 25 years. I was interested in this meeting early in my career and have been attending it ever since I started my fellowship in San Antonio.

As a physician, do you think meetings such as this symposium have an impact on innovation and learning?

These kinds of meetings and updates are encouraging to me. I feel that some of the data in relation to breast cancer progression and resistance helped me better understand why certain treatments that work early on are eventually not as effective as we initially hoped.

What are some advancements in breast cancer research and treatments that you are looking forward to?

New strategies are being studied that look promising for targeting HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2-positive breast cancer occurs when cancer cells produce an overabundance of protein known as HER-2, which leads to an increased growth of cancer cells. The latest research indicates success in those who suffer brain metastases, leading to marked improvements in breast cancer outcomes and survival.


For upcoming webinars visit www.TexasOncologyFoundation.org.