Could a New Drug Treat Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?

First Posted: Oct 15, 2013 10:37 AM EDT
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Researchers have developed a new drug treatment to help against an aggressive form of breast cancer.

According to lead study author Professor Robert Baxter and his team from the Kolling Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia, they recently announced that a combination of two drugs could combat triple-negative breast cancer more successfully.

"We discovered that two drugs in combination might be an effective way to stop tumour growth, " Baxter said, according to The Herald Sun.

Background information from the study notes that breast cancer cells often test negative for oestrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR) and HER2 are thus termed as triple-negative breast cancer. As this process is not caused by hormones, Tamoxifen, a hormonal therapy, or Herceptin, a therapy that targets HER2 receptors, are less effective in treating these types of cancer.

Unfortunately, triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most difficult cases to treat, according to research, and many find that suitable treatment or factors can help prevent health complications.

"The prognosis for people with triple-negative breast cancer is not good," Dr. Libby Topp of Cancer Council NSW, which partly funds Dr Baxter's research, said, via the news organiation. "The five-year survival rate is much lower than 89 per cent for breast cancer in general."

According to breastcancer.org, around 10 to 20 percent of all breast cancers are triple-negative.

For this study, Australian researchers based their findings on the experiments conducted via mice, according to The Herald Sun. "Our Tests have shown the drugs to be extremely effective when used together," Baxter said. "We are now hoping to move on to further preclinical studies." 

As the National Breast Cancer Organization shows that as many as 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with some form of breast cancer, proper screenings and other testing are also important to follow through with in order to better monitor your health and the ones you love. 

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