31 Mar Possible New Chemotherapy Regimen For Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Posted at 22:02h in Author Interviews, Breast Cancer, Chemotherapy, Lancet by

Prof Xi-Chun Hu, Department of Oncology Shanghai Medical College Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaMedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Prof Xi-Chun Hu, Department of Oncology
Shanghai Medical College
Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China

MedicalResearch: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Prof. Hu: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with higher rates of recurrence, shorter disease free survival, and poorer overall survival. Molecular targeting agents tried against Triple-negative breast cancer have nearly all failed. TNBC, concordant with BRCA-associated and basal-like breast cancer, has abnormal DNA repair and genome-wide instability, supporting the use of DNA-damaging agents such as platinum. However, platinum monotherapy is not very potent, combination with other agents, such as gemcitabine has a synergistic effect.

The GP regimen could be an alternative or even preferential first-line doublet chemotherapy strategy for patients with mTNBC.

MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Prof. Hu:

  • Cisplatin plus gemcitabine is one more option. Our study provides evidence for the establishment of an effective, non-anthracycline and non-taxane combination regimen for patients with triple-negative breast cancer.
  • It is a safe approach if doctors combine our data and all other data from different sorts of cancer patients exposed to the doublet.
  • Although cisplatin-related hydration can increase hospital stay and may not be cost-effective, it is still acceptable considering its efficacy. It is more applicable in countries, like China, where nearly all intravenous chemotherapy is delivered in wards, not in outpatient clinics.

MedicalResearch: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Prof. Hu:

  • Translational studies should be done to identify patients who really benefit from platinums.
  • NCCN guideline group recommends gemcitabine plus carboplatin, it is very important to determine which one will be the winner in Triple-negative breast cancer.
  • To improve the safety profile, hydration with more focus on electrolyte balance and use of new standard anti-emetic measures.

Citation:

Cisplatin plus gemcitabine versus paclitaxel plus gemcitabine as first-line therapy for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (CBCSG006): a randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trial

Hu, Xi-Chun et al.

The Lancet Oncology , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , 436 – 446

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Prof Xi-Chun Hu, Department of Oncology (2015). Possible New Chemotherapy Regimen For Triple-Negative Breast Cancer 

Last Updated on April 1, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD

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