AstraZeneca has made headlines once again, this time for a significant breakthrough in breast cancer treatment. The British pharmaceutical company, known for its pivotal role in developing one of the COVID-19 vaccines, revealed promising results for its new drug, Enhertu, during the 2021 European Society of Medical Oncology conference held on September 19.
In clinical trials, Enhertu demonstrated an astonishing 72 percent reduction in the risk of death or disease progression in patients with HER-2-positive metastatic breast cancer when compared to the existing standard treatment. Susan Lane, AstraZeneca’s executive vice president of Oncology R&D, emphasized the drug’s potential to change lives, stating, “These remarkable findings represent a potential shift in how we approach treatment for HER-2-positive metastatic breast cancer and highlight Enhertu’s ability to improve patient outcomes earlier in their care.”
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the U.S., following skin cancer. Over 250,000 new invasive breast cancer cases are projected annually, with nearly 45,000 fatalities expected. Approximately one-third of these cases will metastasize, leading to a grim prognosis where 72 percent of patients succumb within five years. The HER-2 protein is a marker of aggressive cancer, affecting around 20 percent of breast cancer patients.
Given these daunting statistics, a treatment with the potential to save the majority of patients is certainly promising.
Enhertu Versus Current Treatments
The current standard treatment for HER-2-positive breast cancer is TDM1, another antibody-drug conjugate administered intravenously. However, when compared to Enhertu, TDM1 falls short for many patients. AstraZeneca conducted a head-to-head trial involving 500 patients across 15 countries. Half received TDM1 while the other half were treated with Enhertu. After one year, 65 percent of TDM1 patients experienced disease progression or death, whereas fewer than 25 percent of those treated with Enhertu faced similar outcomes. Additionally, progression-free survival increased significantly from 7.2 months to 25.1 months with Enhertu, translating to an increase from less than a year to over two years without tumor growth. Remarkably, about 80 percent of Enhertu patients saw tumor shrinkage, with 16 percent having no visible tumors on imaging.
Though Enhertu is currently FDA-approved only for patients with metastatic or inoperable HER-2 breast cancer who have not responded to other treatments, the conference results suggest it could become the preferred choice for most HER-2-positive breast cancer patients. Dr. Mark Johnson, a leading researcher at AstraZeneca, remarked, “The astounding outcomes from this study could position Enhertu as the new standard of care following traditional chemotherapy for HER-2-positive metastatic breast cancer.”
Minimal Side Effects
As with most cancer treatments, side effects are a concern; however, Enhertu appears to have a favorable safety profile. AstraZeneca reported no significant new safety issues or serious lung disease events during the trials. Experts, including Dr. Sarah Thompson, a hematology and oncology specialist, noted that side effects are generally minimal for most patients. She stated, “Most patients experience little to no side effects.”
A cancer diagnosis is frightening, and when coupled with a poor prognosis, it can be overwhelming. Patients often feel a mixture of fear, uncertainty, and hope for new treatments. For those battling HER-2 breast cancer, Enhertu brings a new ray of hope. AstraZeneca is also investigating Enhertu’s effectiveness for other cancers, such as stomach and lung cancers.
Dr. Johnson expressed optimism, saying, “We hope to see success as this medication targets other HER-2-positive cancers.” Any progress toward combating cancer is a step in the right direction.
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In summary, AstraZeneca’s Enhertu shows remarkable promise in treating HER-2-positive metastatic breast cancer, potentially reshaping the treatment landscape. With significant improvements in survival rates and minimal side effects, this drug offers hope to many patients facing a daunting diagnosis.