New breast cancer therapy drug 'doubles survival time

A new drug therapy for aggressive advanced breast cancer could potentially double the amount of time patients live without the disease progressing, a trial has found.

- STORM NEWTON REBECCA THOMAS

The three-drug combination was hailed by researchers as a huge breakthrough and potentially transformative for those with a common form of breast cancer.

A study, published by The New England Journal of Medicine, revealed some 161 patients were given a three-drug therapy, which comprised two targeted drugs – palbociclib, a type of cancer growth blocker, and a new drug called inavolisib.

The treatment targets the growth of a cancer protein called PI3K protein.

The study included 325 patients from across 28 countries, more than half of whom had cancer that had spread to three or more organs, while more than 80 per cent had already had chemotherapy.

The 161 patients were given the medication alongside the hormone therapy fulvestrant as part of the combination.

The placebo group, which included 164 patients, were given a placebo plus palbociclib and fulvestrant.

Researchers found the three-drug therapy delayed disease progression by an average of 15 months compared with 7.3 months in the placebo group.