Drug authorisation: There could be new hope for those suffering from a certain type of breast cancer if a new drug is to be authorised.
According to medical trials carried out by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), women using Herceptin showed an up to 52 per cent increased reduction in cancer relapses in the early stages after chemotherapy compared with those who didn't.
"It's fantastic," said Naomi Fitzgibbon, Action Breast Cancer, Irish Cancer Society. "The research that has been carried out is very positive." Ms Fitzgibbon said the cancer type was particularly aggressive and that patients would welcome the new development. "They have an option of a new treatment, it's really encouraging," she said.
The Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group (ICORG) is conducting trials using Herceptin on a group of 129 Irish women. The trials have been running for almost three years and the group is due to publish its result at the end of the year.
Dr John Kennedy, consultant medical oncologist and ICORG presidype HER2ent, said the group was happy with the results of the tests for Herceptin. "The treatment would be considered by many oncologists to be an adequate treatment to be given to patients," he said.
Occasionally, patients who are receiving treatment against cancer will experience some heart problems. It has shown that this number increased slightly among those using Herceptin and so patients need to have their heart rate monitored before they receive the treatment. Although only about 4 per cent are affected in the short term, no long-term studies have yet been conducted.
HER2 is a protein that can make tumours grow quickly and is produced when a certain gene that helps cells to divide and grow becomes defective. HER2 affects 20-30 per cent of women with breast cancer.
According to the National Cancer Registry, there are about 2,000 new cases of breast cancer in Ireland each year and over 600 deaths from breast cancer annually. Herceptin or Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody designed to target and block the function of HER2. It is already being used as part of the treatment for those suffering from advanced (metastatic) HER2 positive breast cancer. The test results showing its effectiveness in treating breast cancer in the early stages were recently presented at ASCO's annual meeting.
Hoffman-La Roche, the producer of Herceptin, is expected to apply for an amendment authorising the use of Herceptin in the treatment of early stage HER2 breast cancer in the near future.
According to Ms Fitzgibbon, the Irish Cancer Society would welcome the introduction of the new treatment. "It's going to save women's lives and that's what it's all about," she said.