breast cancer
Research
Treatment
Source: Cancer Treatment Reviews
Trials in mTOR inhibition
In a nutshell
This article reviewed the significance of the mTOR protein in breast cancer patients and its potential as a target for cancer treatments.
Some background
Current cancer treatments are often based on specific molecular activities of the cancer important for tumor growth and spread. For example, since the hormone estrogen plays a role in cell growth stimulation, treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer often includes drugs which block the production of estrogen, or its effect on estrogen receptors. The drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) is another example of a molecular targeting drug used to treat women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer.
The mTOR protein is a molecule normally responsible for cell growth, division and survival. Drugs that inhibit the actions of mTOR have been the focus of recent cancer treatment research. Various mTOR inhibitors, such as everolimus (Afinitor), temsirolimus (Torisel) and sirolimus (Rapamune) are currently being investigated in clinical trials including breast cancer patients.
Methods & findings
In one early phase study, everolimus was given to advanced hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients in addition to hormonal therapy. 68.1% of patients treated with combined everolimus and hormonal therapy showed reduction in tumor size compared to only 59.1% of patients treated with hormonal therapy and a placebo. A similar trial involving recurrent breast cancer patients showed that everolimus in combination with hormonal therapy nearly doubled the time until progression of the disease compared to hormonal treatment alone. The risk for disease progression despite treatment in the same trial was found to be reduced by 46% with the addition of everolimus to hormonal therapy.
Research into the use of mTOR inhibitors for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer patients is still in early phases. A phase one trial investigating the combination of everolimus and trastuzumab demonstrated that the combination is well tolerated and safe to use. Preliminary results from a phase II trial among recurrent breast cancer patients reported that everolimus in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy resulted in a stable disease (no additional growth of the cancer for 6 months) in up to 62% of patients. A large, controlled, phase III trial investigating everolimus as first choice treatment for HER2-positve breast cancer patients is currently underway.
The bottom line
This review concluded that mTOR inhibitors, in combination with current cancer therapies, may reduce disease progression and increase treatment success rates.
The fine print
Some of the writers of this review have declared to have received funds from various pharmaceutical companies that produce mTOR inhibitors.
What's next?
Consult with your physician regarding the potential benefit of combining current therapies with mTOR inhibitors.
Disclaimer:
This information should not be relied upon as a substitute for personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Use the information provided by Medivizor solely at your own risk. Medivizor makes no warranties or representations as to the accuracy of information provided herein. If you have any concerns about your health, please consult a physician.
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Share with doctor
After all other hormonal treatments stopped working and my cancer progressed, my onc started me on this treatment Afinitor and aromatase inhibitor. It has only been recently approved for use in metastatic breast cancer patients in Canada. It is VERY expensive, as I was taking 2 pills of 5 MG / day. It cost over $ 13,000 cdn per month. However, if I only took 1x10 MG pill / day, it was $6500 (1/2 the cost) which I have been moved to. For the fist couple of weeks, I had bad mouth sores, which affected my ability to eat, and loss my appetite. I do not drink alcohol anymore, except an occasional glass of red wine at supper. For the first month, I felt my body was going through some chemistry changes and felt off. I wasn't sleeping well, so my onc prescribed a mild form of sleeping pill which has helped tremendously. Better yet, scans have shown a reduction in the size of my lesions. I do have some mobility issues, but I am working full-time as an analyst. Reply
Kate, thank you for sharing. Certainly, others can benefit from your experience. Reply
An update; after 9 months on Afinitor and Aromasin, I started to get severe pain in my right shoulder. X-rays showed progression of my tumour in the area. I have been taken off this treatment and am now going to be taken my first round of chemo, a drug called capesitabine.
Looking back through the past months while on Afinitor/Aromasin combo, some of the biggest side effects were mouth sores (using Biotene products for my daily dental care helped tremendously), joint pain, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and fatigue. In the end, the drug promoted my life with side effects that were manageable especially after the first month. I still maintained my full time work schedule. One of the negatives of this treatment; it is terribly expensive. Reply
Thank you Kate once again for sharing and inspiring :)
We wish you all the best with the next round of chemotherapy. Make sure you update your profile as well to continue receiving information relevant to your current treatment course. Reply
Interesting, something for me to bear in mind for the future. I'll be interested to see what happens after the next clinical trials! Reply
I had good success with capecitabine for a return of metastatic breast cancer and being on tomoxifen for 7 years. Reply