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Women with hereditary breast cancer, triggered by the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, stand a better chance of survival following successful trials of a drug that cuts the likelihood of the cancer returning after treatment.
A major trial carried out by academic researchers to see whether olaparib can prevent recurrence was stopped early – after two-and-a-half years instead of the planned 10 years – when the benefits of the drug became clear.
The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented online at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference, showed it reduced the relative risk of invasive recurrence, second cancers or death by over 40%.
In absolute terms, 85.9% of women given olaparib in pill form for a year after the end of their treatment remained alive with no return of their cancer for three years, compared with 77.1% on a placebo. The difference was similar when it came to metastatic disease, which is cancers occurring in other places in the body – 87.5% on olaparib and 80.4% on a placebo.
www.theguardian.com
A major trial carried out by academic researchers to see whether olaparib can prevent recurrence was stopped early – after two-and-a-half years instead of the planned 10 years – when the benefits of the drug became clear.
The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented online at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference, showed it reduced the relative risk of invasive recurrence, second cancers or death by over 40%.
In absolute terms, 85.9% of women given olaparib in pill form for a year after the end of their treatment remained alive with no return of their cancer for three years, compared with 77.1% on a placebo. The difference was similar when it came to metastatic disease, which is cancers occurring in other places in the body – 87.5% on olaparib and 80.4% on a placebo.
Drug may help more women survive hereditary breast cancer
International trials of olaparib were stopped early as benefits of ‘groundbreaking’ drug became clear
www.theguardian.com
