In a nutshell
This phase II clinical trial examined the safety and efficacy of adding a drug called rh-endostatin (Endostar) to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.
Some background
Cancer cells need blood supply in order to grow. As cancer grows, it forms its own blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. Therefore, anti-angiogenesis therapies, which stop the formation of new blood vessels, are getting increased attention as a new cancer treatments. Recombinant human (rh)-endostatin is an anti-angiogenesis drug that has also been shown to inhibit the growth of some cancer cells. Previous studies have found that adding rh-endostatin to chemotherapy treatments increased the response rates (assessed by tumor shrinkage) and disease progression rates (the time between treatment and disease worsening) in lung cancer, without additional side effects. The aim of this trial was to evaluate whether adding rh-endostatin to chemotherapy is safe and has any benefits as treatment for breast cancer patients.
Methods & findings
This study included 64 patients with stage II and III breast cancer (cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes). Before surgery to remove the cancer, patients were assigned to receive every 3 weeks, either chemotherapy alone (docetaxel and epirubicin or DE), or chemotherapy plus rh-endostatin (DErh). The main parameters evaluated, after 3 cycles of treatment, were response rate (defined as tumor shrinkage after treatment), or whether the disease remained stable (no change in tumor size) or progressed (an increase in tumor size or spreading of the cancer), as well as side effects and patients’ quality of life.
Results showed that response rate was significantly higher in the DErh group (90.9%) compared to the DE group (67.7%). The researchers also found a higher response rate in women before menopause (100% versus 46.3%) and in women who were still fully mobile and active (94.4% versus 66.7%). Side effects occurred in 81.2% of patients treated with DErh and in 79.3% of patients treated with DE alone. However, most side effects were mild or moderate and did not have significant effects on patients’ quality of life in both groups.
The bottom line
In conclusion, rh-endostatin added to DE chemotherapy is a safe and effective treatment before surgery for breast cancer patients.
The fine print
However, this was only a phase II clinical trial that included only a small number of patients. Further clinical trials on larger groups of participants are expected to fully evaluate the risks and benefits of adding rh-endostatin to chemotherapy as treatment for breast cancer.
Published By :
BMC cancer
Date :
May 21, 2013
I am a breast cancer (“IT”) survivor.
“IT” has no name,
“IT” has no face,
you don’t give “IT” stress. That is my motto.
My treatment was docetaxel and cyclophosphamide. I was 2/4 with 1 engorged centinal lymph node. it looked like a misshapen heart. I had 10 taken out and my whole breast removed. The centinal node burst and went into the fatty tissue. IT was no where else to be found in my body. All this took place from September 1st 2008 to December 29, 2008. There was something else happening in my breast. I had a cord that ran from the piece of IT to the back of my nipple. Every time IT moved the back of my nipple pulled. That was very painful. Like GOD the body works in mysterious ways. I told my body to grab the offending piece and hold it. My body formed a lump AROUND IT and held it. The only reason l lost my breast was because of the cord attached. When the lump was taken out the cord was still there. The doctor didn’t see it. He is a local jerk of a doctor. When that lump was removed I told my body to grab and hold anything else that didn’t belong and it proceeded to form another lump. My SURGEON informed me when she removed the breast there was a cord. There was also another lump that was empty. This astounded my surgeon. My body listened to what I had to say. I’m no longer seeing my chemotherapist. She’s since GRADUATED ME. I am however still seeing my surgeon once a year. I am remaining on TAMOXIFIN till 2019 as a precautionary measure. I’ve been 5 years clear and intend to stay that way. I’m scheduled to have reconstruction next month (November). I am very much looking forward to that.
the combination I told about threw me for a loop for a little while but I quickly adapted to it. Doing poison to kill poison is a rough way to go but it is worth it.