New therapeutic option for advanced breast cancer
Post-menopausal women with advanced breast cancer that has recurred or progressed have another treatment option with the launch of a new drug this week.
Fulvestrant (Faslodex), launched by AstraZeneca, is an oestrogen-receptor
antagonist licensed for the treatment of post-menopausal women with locally
advanced or metastatic breast cancer that is oestrogen receptor-positive.
It is given as a 250mg intramuscular injection into the buttocks once
a month, to women whose breast cancer has progressed after previous treatment
with an anti-oestrogen therapy.
Speaking at the launch of the drug this week, Anthony Howell, professor
of medical oncology at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, said: “The
beauty of Faslodex is that it is not only a new hormonal treatment, but
it has a different mode of action and overcomes the problem of resistance
to tamoxifen. It means we will have something else to offer women when
tamoxifen stops working.” He pointed out that Faslodex is an oestrogen-receptor
antagonist without the agonist effects that are seen with tamoxifen.
These oestrogenic effects can give positive bone effects, but are associated
with a number of side effects including thromboembolic events and endometrial
cancer.
Data from phase III studies involving over 850 women showed that fulvestrant
was at least as effective as the aromatase inhibitor, anastrozole (Arimidex),
with respect to objective response rates, time to disease progression
and overall survival (PJ, 1 June 2002, p751). It was shown to be well
tolerated and to have a reduced incidence of joint disorders compared
with aromatase inhibitors. Approximately 47 per cent of patients experienced
adverse reactions to the drug, most commonly hot flushes, nausea and
injection site reactions, but only 0.9 per cent of patients stopped therapy
because of adverse reactions.
Faslodex was launched in the US in May 2002 and received its EU approval
in March this year.
Notice-board p603 |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader