Impartial cancer information, with an emphasis on breast cancer and melanoma. No sponsors or advertisers. Updated weekly. Written by Professor Richard Kefford, medical oncologist.


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New treatments for breast cancer


	The “RTK” inhibitors Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) are a family of proteins on the surface of breast cancer cells which serve as receptors, or “docking stations” for growth factors that are produced by neighbouring cells, and sometimes by the cancer cells themselves. They set off a signalling cascade in the cell that results in cell growth and inhibits cell death. Inhibiting these RTKs can suppress cancer cells, and can also sensitise them to the effects of chemotherapy drugs. The prototype of these drugs is trastuzumab (“Herceptin”) (see my article HERE ). Others are now showing promise. They include: bevacizumab (“Avastin”) lapatinib gefitinib (“Iressa”) erlotinib (“Tarceva”) SU11248 ( - it doesn’t have a name yet!) These drugs will be increasingly used in clinical trials and offer great hope for the future of breast cancer treatment. I will try to keep this website posted on developments. New anti-hormone drug, fulvestrant (“Faslodex”) Fulvestrant belongs to a class of drugs called Selective Estrogen Receptor Modifiers, or “SERMs”. Fulvestrant actually binds to the estrogen receptor on breast cancer cells and “down-regulates” it. This means that it reduces the amount of the receptor that is present and deprives the cell of an essential growth stimulant. The interesting thing is that it seems to be effective even when other forms of hormone therapy, like tamoxifen, anastrozole (“Arimidex”), and/or letrozole (“Femara”) have ceased working. It looks to be a very worthwhile addition to our armamentarium against breast cancer. Fulvestrant, which is given by intramuscular injection, is not yet available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in Australia. Bevacizumab (“Avastin”) Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that works by attaching to and stopping vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from starting the growth of new blood vessels. Without new blood vessels, tumours cannot grow. Bevacizumab is approved in the USA for use against metastatic colorectal cancer, and is being studied for the treatment of many different cancers, including breast cancer. It is extremely expensive and not yet available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in Australia. At the June 2005 ASCO Meeting the results of the ECOG E2100 trial were presented. This trial evaluated the benefit of adding bevacizumab (“Avastin”) to weekly paclitaxel (“Taxol”) in front-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. These interim results demonstrated a striking improvement in progression-free survival, and tumour response rate for the patients receiving Avastin. \| Tamoxifen \| Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer \| After Treatment - What Now? \| Causes of Breast Cancer \| Breast Cancer Myths \| Family History \| Herceptin \| Femara, Arimidex, Aromasin \| Adjuvant Chemotherapy \| Zoladex and Stopping the ovaries \| Stage, Grade, Receptors \| Zometa, Aredia and Bonefos \| Alopecia from Hormonal Therapy \| New treatments \| Lapatinib 'Tykerb' \| \| What's New \| FAQ Page \| Living with chemotherapy \| Dietary Advice \| Exercise \| The Flu Vaccine \| Insomnia \| Marijuana \| Alternative Medicine \| Managing Menopause \| Advice to Carers \| Breast Cancer \| Pain \| Useful Tips \| Chemotherapy: The What and How \| MRI Screening \| \| Your Cancer Information \| \| Return Home \| New Patients \| Services and Clinics \| Useful Links \| Contact Us \| Download Page \| Cancer Information \|