A clinical study conducted at the University of Manchester UK is showing that a combination of two drugs is significantly shrinking certain breast cancer tumors. This shrinkage occurs only 11 days after diagnosis. The two drugs, lapatinib and trastuzumab, are not new for treating cancer but the way that they are being used in combination with each other is new.
257 women participated in this study and all of them had been diagnosed with epidermal growth factor receptor 2 breast cancer (HER2 positive breast cancer). In this study, the surgeons were not attempting to shrink the tumors and they weren’t expecting to see this type of result. They just wanted to see what type of an impact drugs could have on tumor biology when used between the initial diagnosis and when the tumors are surgically removed.
The participants of the study were either given a 2 drug combination, one drug or no drugs. The results were unprecedented.
87% of the participants who took the combination of two drugs showed a dramatic reduction in cancer cells. In addition, another 17% had tumors that shrunk from 1 to 3 cm down to less than 5 mm. 11% had no discernible cancer cells after treatment.
The current treatment for HER2 breast cancer is to surgically remove the tumors and then use the drug Herceptin along with chemotherapy.
Both of the drugs used in this study, Herceptin and Tyverb, block the growth signals in cancerous cells. Herceptin attaches to HER2 receptors on the breast cancer cells. Tyverb blocks cellular growth signals inside by penetrating the cell.
These drugs have been used in combination with each other before but were only studied after using them for months.
Nigel Bundred, the chief investigator and surgical oncology professor at the University of Manchester stated “This offers the opportunity to tailor treatment for each individual woman.”
The doctors are optimistic, although they are cautious about saying they have found a cure. The results would suggest that chemotherapy may not be necessary by some patients if they start using this combination of medications immediately after diagnosis. It is also necessary to look into the lasting effect of these medications, because HER2 positive cancers have a high risk of recurrence.
According to Prof. Arnie Purushotham from the Cancer Research UK:
“These results are very promising if they stand up in the long run, and could be the starting step of finding a new way to treat HER2 positive breast cancers.”
Via: Second Nexus
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