Ibrance: A Chemocare Guide for Patients with Breast Cancer

Ibrance: A Chemocare Guide for Patients with Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, and about 70% of cases are hormone receptor (HR)-positive, meaning that they depend on hormones such as estrogen and progesterone for growth. However, some of these cancers also do not produce abnormally large amounts of a receptor called HER2 (HER2-negative), which makes them more resistant to hormone therapy and more aggressive.

Ibrance is a new drug that targets HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body or nearby areas. Ibrance works by blocking the activity of two enzymes, CDK4 and CDK6, that are involved in regulating cell division. By doing so, it prevents the cancer cells from growing and dividing uncontrollably.

Ibrance is used in combination with other hormonal drugs for breast cancer, such as an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant. In women who have not reached menopause, it must also be given with a drug called an LHRH agonist. Ibrance is taken as capsules or tablets once a day for 21 days in a row, followed by a 7-day break to complete a 28-day cycle of treatment. The treatment should continue until the patient benefits from it and the side effects are tolerable.

Ibrance has been shown to improve the outcomes of patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer in clinical trials. It has been found to increase the time without disease worsening (progression-free survival) and the time from the start of treatment to death from any cause (overall survival) compared to placebo (a dummy treatment) when added to hormonal therapy. It has also been found to increase the percentage of patients who had a partial or complete shrinkage of their tumors (objective response rate).

However, Ibrance is not without side effects. The most common side effects of grade 3 or higher (severe or life-threatening) are diarrhea, low white blood cell count (neutropenia), low red blood cell count (anemia), fatigue, nausea, infections, and liver enzyme elevation. These side effects can be managed with dose adjustments, supportive care, and monitoring.

Ibrance is a chemocare guide for patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer who have failed previous hormonal therapy. It offers a personalized approach that targets the specific proteins that drive the disease. Ibrance represents a breakthrough for this subgroup of patients who have limited treatment options and poor prognosis.