In a nutshell
This study examined the addition of everolimus (Afinitor) to exemestane (Aromasin) for the treatment of patients with hormone-receptor-positive (HR+) and HER2- breast cancer. The study concluded that adding everolimus (EVE) to exemestane (EXE) did not significantly improve overall survival.
Some background
EXE is a treatment for HR+ (dependent on the hormones estrogen or progesterone for growth) and HER2- (not dependent on HER2 for growth) advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. In previous analyses, EXE plus EVE significantly increased the time following treatment before the disease progressed. The effect of the drug combination EVE plus EXE on overall survival (time from treatment until death from any cause) is not fully understood.
Methods & findings
The study included 724 postmenopausal patients with HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either the combination of EVE and EXE or placebo (substance with no effect on the body) and EXE. Patients were followed for an average of 39.3 months to determine the effect on overall survival.
The average overall survival time in patients receiving EVE and EXE was 31 months. The average overall survival time for patients receiving placebo and EXE was 26.6 months. There was no significant difference in overall survival.
The bottom line
The current study concluded that adding EVE to EXE did not significantly improve overall survival.
The fine print
While there was no significant improvement in overall survival, a previous analysis showed that the combination therapy significantly improved progression-free survival (time following treatment before the disease progresses) by 4.6 months.
Published By :
Annals of oncology
Date :
Sep 17, 2014
