'Game-changing' breast cancer drug breakthrough offers lifeline to thousands of women

A 'game-changing' new breast cancer drug could offer hope to thousands of people affected by the disease.

Scientists have said they've had a 'landmark moment' after the drug was found to slow the growth of breast cancer significantly.

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The drug - named capivasertib - has been found to double the amount of time before the cancer progressed, and in a trial of 700 people, it shrunk the tumour in almost a quarter.

The phase III clinical trial found that in those taking the drug alongside hormone therapy, the cancer didn't progress for on average seven months.

In comparison, in those taking hormone therapy alone, the cancer took on average three and a half months to progress.

The results mean the new combination could become the latest treatment for those with oestrogen receptor (ER) positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) negative breast cancer.

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Women with this type of cancer rely on hormone therapy to block estrogen, but many find the treatment becomes resistant to the tablets.

Capivasertib works in a different way to hormone therapy, effectively blocking a protein molecule called AKT which drives cancer cells to divide.

The findings of the trial were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Speaking about the new drug, Linda Kelly, 65, who joined the trial joined the trial after her breast cancer spread to her bones and chest wall, said: “The results have been amazing. There has been a substantial reduction in my disease, my cancer has not progressed, and I haven’t had any new tumours.

“The treatment is far less debilitating than chemotherapy and I’ve been given the gift of a longer life.”

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Nick Turner, professor of molecular oncology at the Institute of Cancer Research and consultant oncologist at the Royal Marsden led the trial.

He said: “This is a fantastic finding for patients with breast cancer.

“Even with the best current treatments, people with this type of advanced breast cancer will eventually see their cancer stop responding to treatment, and it will progress.

“We’re delighted that this potential first-in-class drug combined with hormone therapy can lower the progression of these advanced cancers, and in almost a third of cases can shrink tumours.

“We believe this new treatment could allow more women and men to live well and live longer with breast cancer.”

Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of the ICR, added: “This is a landmark moment for the treatment of advanced forms of the most common type of breast cancer.

“Capivasertib could offer a completely new treatment option for these patients.

“This is a major success story for UK science – the discovery and development of capivasertib showcases the benefits of collaboration between academia, charities and industry to bring game-changing new treatments to people with cancer as quickly as possible.”