 and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in December 2019. She graduated from Youngstown State University in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in political science. Prior to graduating, Morgan worked as the editor-in-chief of her college newspaper. She went on to work as an assignment editor at a broadcast news station in Youngstown, Ohio before joining 

 She enjoys working out, listening to music, and playing with her dog Scout. You can reach her at 

Morgan Petronelli

In honor of October 13 as National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day,

1. FDA grants trastuzumab deruxtecan breakthrough therapy designation for breast cancer 

The designation was based on data from the DESTINY-Breast03 phase 3 trial, and this is now the second BTD for trastuzumab deruxtecan in breast cancer, bringing its total number of BTDs to 4, according to an AstraZeneca press release.

2. FDA approves pembrolizumab for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer 

Merck earned a new indication for pembrolizumab (Keytruda), in combination with chemotherapy, to treat locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

3. Survival benefit in advanced or metastatic breast cancer with visceral metastases

Findings from a new study show significant overall survival benefit of Novartis’ ribociclib in hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer with visceral metastases.

4. Combination therapy for treatment of germline BRCA-mutated metastatic breast cancer

Results from the study showed antitumor activity and safety to be similar to olaparib and durvalumab monotherapy outcomes.

5. PD-L1 CNA as a biomarker in metastatic breast cancer

Australian researchers believe that PD-L1 may have potential as an indicator of potential response to chemotherapy in women with metastatic breast cancer. That was based on results of a randomized trial, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology in Lugano, Switzerland.

Articles

In honor of October 13 as National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Contemporary OB/GYN® has collected its top metastatic breast cancer articles over the past year.

Top 5 metastatic breast cancer stories

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is urging its members to help fight the spread of medical misinformation—especially when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy, according to a recently published guidance from ACOG.

“The spread of misinformation and mistrust in doctors and science is contributing to staggeringly low vaccination rates among pregnant people,” ACOG writes.

The organization states members are reporting that they are “extending themselves in time-consuming and often creative ways to convert 1 unvaccinated pregnant person at a time.”

To help fight medical misinformation, as well as encourage vaccination against COVID-19, ACOG is asking its members to sign an open letter endorsing COVID-19 vaccination. The organization plans to share this letter with patients, policymakers, and the media to display the robust consensus among obstetrician—gynecologists. They are also urging physicians to continue to advise patients, including those who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or lactating, to receive the vaccine. 

Both ACOG and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommend that pregnant people receive the COVID-19 vaccine since pregnancy is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 complications, according to a 

 They also stated that the vaccine has no impact on fertility. 

“As experts in reproductive health, we continue to recommend that the vaccine be available to pregnant individuals,” ACOG states in a February 4 

 “We also assure patients that there is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility. While fertility was not specifically studied in the clinical trials of the vaccine, no loss of fertility has been reported among trial participants or among the millions who have received the vaccines since their authorization, and no signs of infertility appeared in animal studies. Loss of fertility is scientifically unlikely.”

When it comes to spreading misinformation about the vaccine, the Federation of State Medical Boards, the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and other organizations have released statements about the significance of medical and professional ethics, as well as the dangers of spreading vaccine misinformation. If physicians are found promoting false vaccine information, they are at risk disciplinary action, possibly including the loss of their medical licenses.

For obstetrician—gynecologists partaking in the spread of vaccine misinformation that violates the ACOG Code of Professional Ethics, physicians are subject to disciplinary action by the College, ACOG states.

More information and resources on how to stop the spread of vaccine misinformation can be found at 

1. Covid-19 vaccination, pregnancy, and medical misinformation: how you can help. Accessed October 12, 2021. 

https://www.acog.org/en/news/news-articles/2021/10/covid-19-vaccination-pregnancy-medical-misinformation-how-you-can-help

2. Acog and smfm recommend covid-19 vaccination for pregnant individuals. Accessed October 12, 2021. 

https://www.acog.org/en/news/news-releases/2021/07/acog-smfm-recommend-covid-19-vaccination-for-pregnant-individuals

3. Medical experts continue to assert that covid vaccines do not impact fertility. Accessed October 12, 2021. 

https://www.acog.org/en/news/news-releases/2021/02/medical-experts-assert-covid-vaccines-do-not-impact-fertility

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released resources to help its members fight the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, especially among pregnant people. 

Morgan Petronelli

Articles

Top 5 metastatic breast cancer stories

ACOG releases guidance to help physicians tackle vaccine misinformation