Latest news with #InstituteOfCancerResearch
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Three-drug treatment combo ‘holds back aggressive breast cancer for a year'
A NEW triple threat drug combination could hold aggressive breast cancer at bay for an extra year, a trial found. Adding the medicine inavolisib to an already used pair of drugs delayed the need for chemotherapy by almost two years. 1 It prevented tumours from growing for an average of 17 months, compared to seven months in patients using the standard drug pairing palbociclib and fulvestrant. An estimated 1,000 British women per year could benefit. The combo works for women with a specific breast cancer type called HR+ HER2- with a PIK3CA mutation, which accounts for about three in 10 cases. Professor Kristian Helin, chief of The Institute of Cancer Research in London, said: 'We need to tackle treatment resistance head-on to continue improving survival rates. 'This triple combination approach effectively shuts down cancer's escape routes, giving people with metastatic breast cancer the opportunity to live well for longer.' The trial included 325 patients with aggressive and advanced breast cancer from 28 countries. Cancers shrank in two thirds of people receiving the triple drug combination, compared to 28 per cent of those on standard treatment. New go-to option for docs Study author Professor Nicholas Turner, of the Royal Marsden NHS hospital in London, said: 'This therapy not only helped patients live longer but it more than doubled the time before their cancer progressed or worsened. 'It also gave them more time before needing chemotherapy which is something that patients really fear and want to delay for as long as possible.' 'These results give us confidence that this treatment could become the new go-to option.' The study was presented at the conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. What are the signs of breast cancer? BREAST cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. The majority of women who get it are over 50, but younger women and, in rare cases, men can also get breast cancer. If it's treated early enough, breast cancer can be prevented from spreading to other parts of the body. Breast cancer can have a number of symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue. Most breast lumps aren't cancerous, but it's always best to have them checked by your doctor. You should also speak to your GP if you notice any of the following: a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts discharge from either of your nipples (which may be streaked with blood) a lump or swelling in either of your armpits dimpling on the skin of your breasts a rash on or around your nipple a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast Source: NHS
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Major discovery about 'invisible' breast tumours that are too small to show up on scans
Thousands of women have been thrown a lifeline thanks to a 'next generation' drug that can destroy breast cancer tumours, months before they even grow. The daily pill, known as camizestrant, stops cancer cells from developing, slowing the spread of the disease and delaying the need for gruelling chemotherapy. Around seven in ten breast cancer patients in the UK have a type of the disease known as HR positive HER-2 negative breast cancer—the most common form. Of these, around 40 per cent can develop an aggressive genetic mutation that makes their outlook incredibly bleak. But the 'transformational' trial found patients given the drug camizestrant saw their risk of the cancer progressing slashed by more than half. It was also the first worldwide study that showed blood tests, rather than scans, can pick up early signs of cancer returning. Doctors first used the test, known as a liquid biopsy, to spot changes in the cancer's DNA—when they found signs of an ESR1 mutation, some patients were given camizestrant, while others stayed on their usual treatment. Experts presenting the findings today at the American Society for Clinical Oncology conference (ASCO) in Chicago, hailed it a 'pivotal moment in breast cancer care' and 'truly fundamental shift in how we approach cancer'. The drug is already being fast-tracked for use in the US and has been sent for approval in the UK. Professor Nicholas Turner, an expert in molecular oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, who co-led the major trial, said: 'This is a pivotal moment in breast cancer care. 'This proactive approach also redefines how we think about drug resistance in this type of breast cancer. 'This is a potential new treatment strategy in oncology to treat developing resistance before it causes disease progression.' Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, added: 'The results represent more than a clinical milestone—they represent a transformational shift in how we approach precision medicine. 'It is very exciting to see this technology being used to delay disease progression in patients and extend the benefits of treatment in patients with this type of advanced breast cancer and delay the need for chemotherapy for as long as possible. 'These breakthroughs are helping shape personalised breast cancer treatment, allowing doctors to adjust therapies earlier and improve patient outcomes.' In the trial, 3,325 patients HR positive HER-2 negative advanced breast cancer from 23 countries were screened for ESR1 mutations using a liquid biopsy every eight to 12 weeks. Of these, 315 women who tested positive for an ESR1 mutation were given either AstraZeneca's camizestrant and a medicine known as a CDK4/6 inhibitor or another hormone therapy as well as a CDK4/6 inhibitor. Researchers found those on the camizestrant combination slashed their risk of death or the cancer progressing by 56 per cent. The drug also kept the cancer at bay for 16 months on average compared to 9.2 months on standard treatment. Just one per cent of patients stopped taking the drug over side effects. Presenting the findings at ASCO, Susan Galbraith, executive vice president of oncology at AstraZeneca said the drug had now been given 'breakthrough therapy designation' by the Food and Drugs Administration in the US, helping to speed up regulatory review. 'We are having ongoing discussions with regulatory authorities including the UK', added. Dave Fredickson, AstraZeneca's executive vice president of oncology business unit, also said the drug demonstrated a 'truly fundamental shift in how we approach cancer care. 'We're moving away from a one size fits all era and targeting cancer early.' Meanwhile, Dr Catherine Elliott, director of research at Cancer Research UK, said: 'This study is a clear example of how blood tests are starting to transform cancer treatment. 'By tracking tiny traces of tumour DNA in the blood, researchers were able to spot early signs of treatment resistance and switch therapies before cancer had a chance to grow. 'It shows how circulating tumour DNA—or ctDNA—could help doctors make smarter, more timely treatment decisions. 'This approach could become an important part of how we personalise care for people with advanced breast cancer.'
The Independent
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
‘Pivotal' new breast cancer drug can help stop tumours early
A new drug has been found to halt the growth of certain breast cancer tumours, offering hope to patients and delaying the need for chemotherapy - with one professor describing the drug as 'a pivotal moment in breast cancer care'. The Serena-6 trial revealed that camizestrant effectively stops cancer cells from using hormones to fuel their growth. According to scientists, this is the first global study demonstrating that early detection of cancer resistance through blood tests can significantly benefit patients. The study focused on patients with hormone-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, which accounts for approximately 70 per cent of all cases. Results indicated that patients treated with camizestrant experienced a 56 per cent reduction in cancer progression compared to those receiving standard therapies. Doctors employed a straightforward blood test to identify changes in the cancer's DNA, which signal the potential failure of current treatments. Upon detecting these signs, some patients were administered camizestrant, while others continued with their standard treatment. Those on camizestrant had their cancer stay the same and not get worse for much longer, 16 months on average, compared with about nine months for the others. The drug was safe for most patients but 1 per cent stopped taking it because of side effects. More than 3,000 patients from 23 countries took part in the study, which was funded by AstraZeneca and co-led by researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research in London. Co-principal investigator Professor Nick Turner, group leader in molecular oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said the drug is 'a pivotal moment in breast cancer care'. Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of The Institute of Cancer Research said: 'The results of the Serena-6 trial represent more than a clinical milestone, they represent a transformational shift in how we approach precision medicine.' About 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year and 11,500 will die from the disease, The Institute of Cancer Research said. The Serena-6 trial results were to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago on Sunday. Dr Catherine Elliott, director of research at Cancer Research UK, said: 'This study is a clear example of how blood tests are starting to transform cancer treatment. 'By tracking tiny traces of tumour DNA in the blood, researchers were able to spot early signs of treatment resistance and switch therapies before cancer had a chance to grow. 'It shows how circulating tumour DNA, or ctDNA, could help doctors make smarter, more timely treatment decisions. 'This approach could become an important part of how we personalise care for people with advanced breast cancer.'
The Guardian
29-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
New AI test can predict which men will benefit from prostate cancer drug
Doctors have developed an artificial intelligence tool that can predict which men with prostate cancer will benefit from a drug that halves the risk of dying. Abiraterone has been described as a 'gamechanger' treatment for the disease, which is the most common form of cancer in men in more than 100 countries. It has already helped hundreds of thousands with advanced prostate cancer to live longer. But some countries, including England, have stopped short of offering the 'spectacular' drug more widely to men whose disease has not spread. Now a team from the US, UK and Switzerland have built an AI test that shows which men would most likely benefit from abiraterone. The 'exciting' breakthrough will enable healthcare systems to roll out the drug to more men, and spare others unnecessary treatment. The AI test is being unveiled in Chicago at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the world's largest cancer conference. Nick James, professor of prostate and bladder cancer research at the Institute of Cancer Research in London and a consultant clinical oncologist at the Royal Marsden NHS foundation trust, co-led the team that built it. 'Abiraterone has already hugely improved the outlook for hundreds of thousands of men with advanced prostate cancer,' said James. 'We know that for many men with cancer that has not yet spread, it can also have spectacular results. 'But it does come with side-effects and requires additional monitoring for potential issues with high blood pressure or liver abnormalities. It can also slightly increase the risk of diabetes and heart attacks, so knowing who is most likely to benefit is very valuable. 'This research shows that we can pick out the people who will respond best to abiraterone, and those who will do well from standard treatment alone – hormone therapy and radiotherapy.' The test uses AI to study images of tumours and pick out features invisible to the human eye. The team, funded by Prostate Cancer UK, the Medical Research Council and Artera, trialled the test on biopsy images from more than 1,000 men with high-risk prostate cancer that had not spread. The AI test identified the 25% of men in the group most likely to benefit from the abiraterone – for these men, the drug halves the risk of death. In the trial, patients received a score – biomarker-positive or -negative – which was compared with their outcomes. For those with biomarker-positive tumours, one in four of the men, abiraterone cut their risk of death after five years from 17% to 9%. For those with biomarker-negative tumours, abiraterone cut the risk of death from 7% to 4% – a difference that was not statistically or clinically significant, the team said. These men would benefit from standard therapy alone and be spared unnecessary treatment. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The study co-leader Prof Gert Attard, of the UCL Cancer Institute, said: 'This study shows, in a very large cohort of patients, that novel algorithms can be used to extract information from routinely available pathology slides to tailor these treatments to specific patients and minimise over treatment whilst maximising the chance of cure.' James said that because fewer men than previously thought would need the drug, healthcare systems should consider giving it to men whose cancer had not spread. It is approved for NHS use in England for advanced prostate cancer, but not for newly diagnosed high-risk disease that has not spread. However, it has been available for men with this indication in Scotland and Wales for two years. 'Abiraterone costs just £77 per pack, compared with the thousands of pounds that new drugs cost,' said James. 'I truly hope that this new research – showing precisely who needs the drug to live well for longer – will lead to NHS England reviewing their decision not to fund abiraterone for high-risk prostate cancer that has not spread.' Dr Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, described the AI test as 'exciting'. He added: 'We therefore echo the researchers' urgent call for abiraterone to be made available to those men whose lives it can save – men who, thanks to this research, we can now identify more precisely than ever before.'
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Fresh calls for health chiefs to give breakthrough breast cancer drug green light as pivotal trial shows it boosts survival
A three-drug 'breakthrough' treatment for aggressive, advanced breast cancer can prolong survival by a quarter, a pivotal trial has found. Thousands of women could benefit after tests showed the method was more effective than the current NHS offering. Scientists found the drug, Inavolisib, taken in combination with two other medications saw survival prolonged to just under three years, compared with a little over two. Researchers have hailed the results as potentially transformative for those with PIK3CA-mutated HR+/HER2- breast cancer—a common form of the disease triggered by a mutation on the PIK3CA gene. Last year medicines regulator the Food and Drug Administration approved the new therapy combination in the US and it was hoped that it would become the standard of care for women with this form of the disease. In the UK, however, NHS watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not yet granted Inavolisib approval. Professor Nicholas Turner, from The Institute of Cancer Research, London and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, led the major trial into the drug, which was developed following years of research by the institute. He said: 'The study was designed to address a need for more potent and tolerable therapies for PIK3CA-mutated HR+/HER2- breast cancer. 'The trial findings support an inavolisib-based treatment as an emerging new standard of care that helps people live longer, as well as substantially improving how long treatment works.' The drug, which is also known as Itovebi and made by Roche, works by blocking the action of the PIK3CA gene mutation that drives cancer cells to multiply. It therefore helps to slow or stop the spread of cancer cells. In the trial, 164 patients were given the available treatment of palbociclib, a cancer growth blocker, and fulvestrant, a hormone therapy. The other 161 were also given new drug inavolisib. Researchers found average overall survival stood at around 34 months for those on the three-drug treatment. For those on the two, it was just 27 months. Overall, the inavolisib combination reduced the risk of death by 33 per cent for patients, they added. Meanwhile, the proportion of patients whose tumors shrank by more than 30 per cent in response to treatment was 63 per cent for patients in the inavolisib group versus 28 per cent in the placebo group. A greater proportion of patients on the three-drug treatment discontinued treatment due to side effects (6.8 per cent), however, compared to the two-drug group (0.6 per cent). The findings will be presented in full next week at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference in Chicago. Professor Jane Lowe Meisel, an expert in medical oncology at Emory University in Atlanta and ASCO breast cancer expert, said: 'The trial has identified a targeted treatment regimen that meaningfully improves survival in patients with untreated PIK3CA-mutated HR+/HER2- breast cancer—a big step forward for these patients. 'This study illustrates the importance of genomic testing at the time of diagnosis of hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer, so that patients with PIK3CA mutations who qualify for this approach can be readily identified.' One in seven women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime — around 56,000 a year — making it the most common cancer in the UK. The figure stands at roughly 300,000 annually in the US. HR+/HER2- breast cancer is the most common subtype of breast cancer, accounting for about 70 per cent of breast cancers. Research has found that around 40 per cent of people with HR+/HER2- have a mutation in the PIK3CA gene.
