Abemaciclib Becomes First Drug in Decades to Extend Breast Cancer Survival

Abemaciclib combined with endocrine therapy markedly enhances survival among individuals diagnosed with high-risk, early-stage breast cancer, according to a study conducted by Eli Lilly in collaboration with Mayo Clinic researchers (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Mayo Clinic collaborates on new drug study showing improved survival for early breast cancer

Go to source). In the phase 3 monarchE trial, patients who received two years of abemaciclib (Verzenio) alongside endocrine therapy experienced a 15.8% lower risk of death compared with those who underwent endocrine therapy alone. The trial focused on individuals with a prevalent form of early-stage breast cancer.

Expanded Clinical Insights on Abemaciclib

The clinical trial included more than 5,600 participants across over 600 medical sites in 38 countries. Each participant had hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer, a subtype representing around 70% of all breast cancers. All also had cancer present in at least one underarm lymph node, a factor associated with increased recurrence risk.

“This is the first therapy in over twenty years to significantly extend survival for this group of patients,” said study co-author Matthew Goetz, M.D., a breast medical oncologist at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. “By adding one drug to standard endocrine therapy, we are not only seeing fewer recurrences but also reducing the likelihood of breast cancer-related deaths.”

New Standard of Care for High-Risk Patients

The findings, published in the Annals of Oncology, confirm abemaciclib combined with endocrine therapy as the new treatment standard for individuals at high risk.

Abemaciclib belongs to a class of medications known as CDK4/6 inhibitors, which function by blocking proteins that promote cancer cell division. It is the first drug in its class approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat node-positive, high-risk early breast cancer.

Dr. Goetz had earlier led the MONARCH 3 clinical trial, which resulted in the Food and Drug Administration approving abemaciclib in combination with hormone therapy for advanced HR+/HER2- breast cancer.

Targeted Action Against Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer

“Abemaciclib was designed to target estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer differently from chemotherapy by slowing the multiplication of cancer cells,” explained Dr. Goetz. “We can now confidently say that the early reduction in recurrence we observed translates to improved overall survival, which is what truly matters to patients.”

Although most individuals with HR+/HER2- breast cancer achieve favorable long-term outcomes, those whose disease involves lymph nodes or presents with large or high-grade tumors face a higher likelihood of recurrence.

Among patients treated with abemaciclib and endocrine therapy, 32% fewer experienced disease spread after seven years compared to those who received only endocrine therapy.

This finding demonstrates that abemaciclib continues to lower recurrence risk even after treatment concludes. Further monitoring will determine whether the observed survival benefits continue to increase over time.

Reference:

1. Mayo Clinic collaborates on new drug study showing improved survival for early breast cancer - (https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-collaborates-on-new-drug-study-showing-improved-survival-for-early-breast-cancer/)

Source-Eurekalert