Targeted treatments approved this year for three aggressive breast cancers illustrate the ongoing advances in the field of medical oncology, local cancer doctors say.

There is more hope in the world of cancer, Medical Director Ibrahim Sbeitan said at Conemaugh Cancer Center in Johnstown. We dont lose as many of our patients to cancer. Its much better for cancer than 10 years ago.

One of the new treatments was proven through clinical trials that included patients with UPMC Hillman Cancer Centers, which has locations in Johnstown, Altoona, Indiana and Latrobe.

We were part of that trial through Hillman and UPMC, Clinical Services Director Rashid Awan said at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, John P. Murtha Pavilion, 337 Somerset. St., Johnstown.

We are trying to be innovative for our patients right here in Johnstown, he said.

The three new medical oncology drugs target specific characteristics in previously hard-to-treat breast cancer and other cancers.

There are three groups of receptors that are targets for cancer drugs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website compares them to three locks on a door. One is a receptor for the hormone estrogen; another is a receptor for the hormone progesterone; the third is human epidermal growth factor protein, abbreviated HER2.

If the cancer has any of those receptors, doctors have developed keys to open them for targeted treatments.

Two of the new treatments alpelisib and ribociclib are improving the odds for patients with metastatic cancer that has receptors for the hormones, but not for HER2.

The third atezolizumab has been shown to help those with triple-negative breast cancer, which has been difficult to unlock because it is negative for all three receptors.

Hormone therapy has been the standard of care for patients with metastatic hormone-receptor positive, HER2 negative cancer. However, after initial improvement with the hormone medicine, the cancer has usually advanced.

Bodys own defense system

Prior to the Food and Drug Administrations approval of atezolizumab in March, chemotherapy was still the main option for triple-negative breast cancer, Sbeitan said.

The drug, sold under the brand name Tecentriq, is the first immunotherapy drug approved for triple-negative cancer.

Immunotherapy is starting to break into triple negative, Sbeitan said.

Although he acknowledges that the treatment hasnt been around long enough to show long-term survival, Sbeitan says it has slowed progression with less side effects.

Block that protein

The UPMC Hillman patients were part of the MONALEESA clinical trials funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. of Switzerland for its Kisqali brand of ribociclib.

Awan explains ribociclib and other CDK4/6 inhibitors block the CDK proteins to slow cell growth.

Cancer cells use the protein to grow, he said. Its like fuel for them. This blocks the fuel and there is very good response.

The drug is also significant because the study focused on younger, premenopausal breast cancer patients, Physicians Weekly said, citing Dr. Sara Hurvitz of the University of Southern California Los Angeles Janssen Comprehensive Cancer Center. For women under 45, breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths.

This is the first study to demonstrate improved survival for a targeted therapy, Hurvitz said at an American Society of Clinical Oncology press conference covered by Physicians Weekly.

Find the mutation

The third new treatment uses a different approach to target a sub-group of advanced-stage hormone-positive, HER2 negative patients.

Alpelisib, sold as Piqray, targets cancer with a mutation known as PIK3CA that has grown despite hormonal treatment.

The drug is used for postmenopausal women and men with breast cancer.

Normal cells became cancer because a mutation took place, Sbeitan said. We try to find the mutation and reset the mutation.

Block by block

Sbeitans colleague, medical oncologist Sheetal Higbee, says alpelisib is one of the second-line cancer drugs that is used for patients who dont respond to the standard treatments. The second- and third-line drugs help patients live longer while more treatments are developed.

Their life with cancer is a lot more bearable, she said at the Conemaugh Cancer Center. We have been giving them hope because we have so many options.

Progress may seem slow, Sbeitan admits, but the results have begun to show.

Cancer treatment is a block by block treatment, Sbeitan said.

You have to have the attitude that each treatment is going to add to the last.

One of Conemaughs patients has been receiving treatments for metabolic cancer since 2006.

She is fully functioning, Sbeitan said.

Although treatments for some cancer is curative up front, Sbeitan says most require ongoing treatments. And there may be setbacks, he adds.

For those patients, the goal is to allow them to enjoy a longer quality of life while keeping the cancer at bay.

They are living cancer-free, he said. We dont use the word cure.

Awan compares it to chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. All can be controlled with medication and lifestyle changes.

They can live with the disease and have a normal life, he said.

Slowing progress

It is getting more challenging to develop new treatments because of existing cancer care, successes, medical oncologist Dr. Michael Voloshin said at UPMC Hillman in Johnstown.

Researchers dont want to be depriving cancer patients of the proven standard of care in order to test experimental treatments.

We have a lot well mapped out on how to treat cancer, Voloshin said.

Continued here:
Breast cancer awareness | 'There is more hope': Three new drugs available in fight against disease - TribDem.com

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