Combination Drug Therapy Promising for Advanced Breast Cancer

In an MD Anderson-led study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium today, researchers presented new data about a combination drug therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer.

The study, known as Breast Cancer Trials of Oral Everolimus (BOLER0-2 ), found that combining everolimus, with hormonal therapy drug exemestane, resulted in a two-fold increase in progression-free survival for postmenopausal women who received prior endocrine therapy.

Everolimus inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) protein, a central regulator of tumor cell division and blood vessel growth in breast cancer cells; the mTOR pathway is activated in hormone-resistant breast cancer.

Gabriel Hortobagyi, M.D., professor and chair of MD Anderson's Department of Breast Medical Oncology, says the study is "based on the concept that recognizes an increased understanding of signaling pathways and the efficacy of using a dual-attack approach to target them."

In the video below, Hortobagyi discusses the BOLER0-2 clinical trial and findings, their significance and the impact for breast cancer patients.

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