A new experimental treatment for breast cancer reduced the risk of invasive tumor recurrence or death by about 30% in volunteers treated with the drug. The good news caused a sensation at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, one of the largest scientific conferences dedicated to the disease.
The work presented on Thursday (11/12) at the event evaluated the use of giredestrant, produced by the pharmaceutical company Roche. The drug is intended for patients with ER+/HER2- early breast cancer. This subtype accounts for approximately 70% of tumor diagnoses.
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Oncologist Gabrielle Scattolin, member of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology, says the result represents a clinical milestone. “As a result of this drug, fewer patients had their disease return, which could position giredestrant as a new standard of care for patients with this subtype of breast cancer, an area that has not seen such significant progress over the past two decades. We hope that this drug will be available soon,” he said.
Main symptoms of breast cancer
- Appearance of nodulesusually painless, hard and irregular, in the breasts.
- Skin edemawhich looks like an orange peel.
- Skin retraction.
- Pain.
- Nipple inversion.
- Scaling or ulceration of the nipple.
- Transparent secretionpink or reddish coming out of the nipple.
- Lymph nodes palpable in the armpit.
How did the study of the new medicine take place?
The study presented was called LiderA Breast Cancer. This is a global phase 3 clinical trial, the final minimum step necessary for the approval of a new drug. Giredestrant was developed to prevent estrogen from binding to the estrogen receptor, triggering its breakdown and stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells.
The research involved 4,100 patients with stage I to III early breast cancer, i.e. low to high severity. All suffered from ER+/HER2- subtype diseases. For two years, half received oral giredestrant daily and the other half received standard endocrine therapy such as tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor.
Positive signs
A total of 336 events of invasive recurrence or death occurred. The giredestrant-treated group had fewer events, with 6.7% of cases followed over five years. In the standard group, the rate reaches 9.4%. Three-year disease-free survival rates were 92.4% with giredestrant and 89.6% with traditional treatment.
The study also assessed secondary outcomes. There was a trend toward improvement in overall survival, but without statistical significance. Another relevant point was the metastasis-free interval, which was almost 40% longer in patients who tried the new drug.
The safety profile was similar to that of standard treatment. The most common adverse events included joint pain, flushing, and headache, but the majority were considered low severity and at similar rates between groups compared to currently used medications.
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Breast cancer is a disease characterized by the disordered multiplication of breast cells causing a tumor. Although it mainly affects women, the disease can also be diagnosed in men.
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According to the National Cancer Institute (Inca), there are several types of breast cancer. Some grow quickly, while others grow slowly. Most cases, treated early, have a good prognosis.
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There is no specific cause for the disease. However, environmental, genetic, hormonal and behavioral factors can increase the risk of developing the disease. Additionally, the risk increases with age and is common in people over 50 years old.
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Although there is a real chance of cure if diagnosed early, breast cancer remains a challenge. It often takes away strength, hair, breasts, self-esteem, and in some cases, life. According to Inca, this disease is responsible for the highest number of cancer deaths among the Brazilian female population.
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The main signs of the disease are the appearance of hardened and usually painless bumps or nodules. Added to this are changes in the characteristics of the skin or nipples, spontaneous discharge of fluid from one of the nipples, nodules in the neck area or armpits and red or orange skin-like skin on the chest.
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The famous self-examination is extremely important for the early identification of the disease. However, to do it correctly, it is important to carry out the assessment at three different times: in front of the mirror, standing and lying down.
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Do the self-examination. In front of the mirror, take off all your clothes and look at your breasts with your arms hanging down. Next, raise your arms and check your breasts. Finally, place your hands on the pelvis applying pressure to observe if there is any change in the surface of the breasts.
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Palpation of the feet should be carried out during the bath with the body wet and the hands soapy. To do this, raise your left arm, placing your hand behind your head. Then carefully palpate the left breast with your right hand. Repeat steps on right breast
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Palpation should be carried out with fingers together and extended, in circular movements over the entire breast and from top to bottom. After palpation, you should also gently press on the nipples to see if any fluid escapes.
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Finally, lying down, place your left hand on the back of your head. Then, with your right hand, palpate the left breast, checking the entire area. These steps should be repeated on the right breast to complete the assessment of both breasts.
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Women over 20 years of age who have cases of cancer in the family or over 40 years of age without cases of cancer in the family should conduct breast self-examination to prevent and diagnose the disease at an early stage.
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Self-examination can also be carried out by men who, despite its atypical nature, may suffer from this type of cancer, presenting similar symptoms.
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According to experts, if the disease is suspected, it is important to consult a doctor to begin official examinations, such as a mammogram and laboratory tests, capable of indicating the presence of the disease.
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It is important to know that the presence of small lumps in the breast does not necessarily indicate that cancer is developing. However, if this nodule increases over time or causes other symptoms, it may indicate a malignancy and should therefore be examined by a doctor.
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Treatment for breast cancer will depend on the extent of the disease and the characteristics of the tumor. However, this may include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biological therapy.
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However, results are better when the disease is diagnosed early. If it has spread to other organs (metastases), treatment will seek to prolong survival and improve the patient’s quality of life.
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