Download UK Offers Targeted Research-Based Therapy for Breast Cancer

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UK Offers Targeted Research-Based Therapy For Breast Cancer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 9, 2008) − Over two-thirds of all breast cancers are
dependent on estrogen for growth and the use of antiestrogen therapies is a crucial
treatment modality that controls disease and preserves quality of life for patients.
Unfortunately, resistance to antiestrogen therapies, also known as endocrine or
hormonal therapies, is very common. In fact, this resistance develops in all patients with
metastatic or advanced disease. Unraveling the causes of resistance and finding ways
to overcome it is an important research goal and a major focus of the breast cancer
program at the Markey Cancer Center.
Antiestrogen therapies, such as the commonly used drug tamoxifen and
aromatase inhibitors, will eventually cease to control the growth of cancer and stronger
more toxic forms of treatment such as chemotherapy may be required in an attempt to
control the disease.
"After responding for a period of time, months on average, all women who have
metastatic or advanced breast cancer will see these pills stop working," said Dr.
Suleiman Massarweh. "This resistance is a problem, so we need to find a way to make
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anti-estrogen therapy work for longer or find ways to basically overcome that
resistance."
Previous research has revealed that breast cancer becomes resistant to
antiestrogen therapy by activating alternative growth signals that makes it grow
relatively independent of estrogen and therefore become resistance to therapies aimed
at blocking estrogen. Targeting these other growth signals may offer the opportunity to
prevent or even overcome resistance to antiestrogen therapy and improve patient
benefit.
Recent laboratory research shows there are multiple growth signals in a cancer
cell that are activated and may be responsible for this resistance. Defining these signals
can allow doctors to target them specifically using other pills, which can overcome
resistance and make antiestrogen therapy work for longer periods of time.
This growth-signaling data has been driven primarily by lab research.
Massarweh's current studies are working to prove that in the clinical phase.
"We are trying to use additional targeted therapies that suppress these growth
signals in combination with antiestrogens to enhance their effects" said Massarweh.
"We hope that combining antiestrogens with these additional targeted pills will keep
cancer under control for longer and delay the need for more toxic treatment with
chemotherapy. This is the fundamental theme behind our work."
In the last few years, there have been many new targeted agents that has the
potential to inhibit the kind of growth pathways that may be responsible for antiestrogen
resistance. They happen to be in pill form which patients can take at home with
antiestrogen pills and other prescribed medications.
"Currently, two research trials are open at UK and provide an additional option for
women who have metastatic breast cancer to consider enrolling on these studies," said
Massarweh.
Antiestrogen therapy for breast cancer remains relatively inexpensive and nontoxic. It also preserves the quality of life in patients with metastatic/advanced breast
cancer. Enhancing the benefit of this form of therapy by combining it with novel targeted
drugs has the potential to overcome treatment resistance and preserve quality of life for
longer in patients with breast cancer.
For more information on this study, please contact Massarweh at (859) 257-3608
or via email at [email protected].
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