New Hope for Younger Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

A recent study found that adding ribociclib, a targeted drug that attacks cancer cells improved survival rates in premenopausal women diagnosed with an advanced form of breast cancer. Compared to patients that only received hormone therapy, patients prescribed ribociclib had their risk of death reduced by about a third. The drug works by specifically targeting and interfering with the cell processes that lead to cancer growth.

Here is what the study involved:

·         It was conducted on 672 premenopausal women, all below 59 years. The patients also had advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. This type of breast cancer is very aggressive and is more commonly found in younger women.

·         All the patients were subjected to hormone therapy. In addition, part of them were given ribociclib and the remaining ones took a placebo. The researchers monitored the patients for 42 months and found that 70 percent of those that received the ribociclib combination were still alive while only 46 percent of those that received hormone therapy alone were alive. Those who got the combination therapy went for an average of 23.8 months without the disease spreading as compared to 13 months for those that received the placebo.

·         Research had already shown that combining ribociclib with a hormone therapy slows down the progress of incurable breast cancer. This new study shows that the combination can also extend the life of premenopausal patients.

Patients with cancer in its advanced stages will benefit greatly from this new discovery. They will be able to have more time with their families and loved ones. This can go a long way in making life better for breast cancer patients already going through a difficult time with the diagnosis.Owing to the result, it could also pave way for similar research on possible combinations with ribociclib that could help with cancer patients that have already gone through hormone therapy.