Early breast cancer drug offers hope

A STUDY has confirmed that women with early breast cancer get significant benefits from taking the new drug Arimidex.

Switching to this after two years of standard tamoxifen treatment improves event-free survival for post-menopausal women.

Arimidex has been available in Ireland for the last six months and is used to treat patients in specialist units and during early stage breast cancer.

Naomi Fitzgibbon of Action Breast Cancer said a 2002 trial showed Arimidex had a much better effect than tamoxifen at this stage.

“Consultants here know the results of this trial and if the drug is suitable it will be prescribed to women,” she said.

She added that cost of the drug is not a problem for Irish women with breast cancer, as medication is provided free-of-charge.

Scientists led by Professor Raimund Jakesz of Vienna Medical University combined data from two trials that examined taking Arimidex after tamoxifen.

Arimidex, the trade name for anastrozole, shuts down production of the hormone oestrogen, which fuels most types of breast cancer.

The two trials involved more than 3,000 women who were either given Arimidex after two years of tamoxifen, or a further course of tamoxifen. Both drugs are given as additional therapy following surgery.

Women in the Arimidex group were 40% less likely to have a relapse than those in the tamoxifen group. More patients on Arimidex had bone fractures, but fewer had blood clots.

Prof Jakesz said: “Although further investigation is necessary to ascertain the ideal sequence and duration of adjuvant endocrine therapy, the analysis confirms that post-menopausal women who receive tamoxifen as additional therapy should be switched to anastrozole after two years of treatment.”

Emma Taggart, Policy and Campaigns Director at the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “This is welcome news. Tamoxifen has already made a big impact in reducing the risk of recurrence for certain breast cancer patients but Arimidex can also make a real difference. We look forward to further research on how long, and in what order, these drugs should be used.

“Arimidex has recently been licensed as an alternative to tamoxifen and we hope that Nice (the National Institute for Clinical Excellence) will take steps to ensure that the drug is available to all who could benefit from it as quickly as possible.”

Action Breast Cancer have a free helpline which is staffed by specialist cancer nurses.

They can be contacted on 1800 30 90 40.