Three-drug therapy helps women with aggressive breast cancer live longer
The treatment could also delay the need for gruelling chemotherapy, according to a trial.
Researchers are hopeful the combination could become the 'new go-to option' for women with PIK3CA-mutated hormone receptor positive (HR+) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer.
This mutation in the PIK3CA gene causes cells to divide and replicate uncontrollably.
The final results from the INAVO120 study, led by experts at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago.
The trial included 325 patients from across 28 countries.
More than half had metastatic breast cancer that had spread to three or more organs and the majority had already had chemotherapy.
Researchers used a blood test known as a liquid biopsy, which detects tumour DNA in the blood, to test for the PIK3CA mutation.
Of the total, 161 were given a three-drug combination comprising two targeted drugs – palbociclib, a type of cancer growth blocker, and a new drug called inavolisib, which blocks the activity of the PI3K protein – as well as the hormone therapy fulvestrant.
The placebo group, which included 164 patients, was given a dummy pill plus palbociclib and fulvestrant.
The study found the median overall survival in the inavolisib group was 34 months, compared with 27 months in the placebo group.
The three-drug therapy also delayed disease progression by 17.2 months, compared with 7.3 months in the placebo group, with patients also able to delay chemotherapy treatment by almost two years longer.
The latest results come after previous analysis of the study, published in October, showed the three-drug therapy delayed disease progression by an average of 15 months compared with 7.3 months in the placebo group.
Lead author Nick Turner, a professor of molecular oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and consultant medical oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'The key findings from this study showed that the inavolisib-based therapy not only helped patients live longer but it more than doubled the time before their cancer progressed or worsened.
'It also gave them more time before needing subsequent chemotherapy which we know is something that patients really fear and want to delay for as long as possible.
'These results give us confidence that this treatment could become the new go-to option for patients who have HR+, HER2- breast cancer with a PIK3CA mutation, as it has shown significant improvements in both survival and quality of life.'
It is estimated that about 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year, some 70% of whom will have HR+, HER2- breast cancer.
PIK3CA mutations are found in 35-40% of HR+ breast cancers.
The three-drug therapy of inavolisib, palbociclib and fulvestrant is not approved in the UK.
However, the combination of palbociclib and fulvestrant has been available as an option for patients with certain types of breast cancer on the NHS since 2022.
Prof Kristian Helin, chief executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, added: 'If we are to continue improving cancer survival rates, we need to tackle treatment resistance head on.
'This research demonstrates how this triple combination approach effectively shuts down cancer's escape routes, giving people with metastatic breast cancer the opportunity to live well for longer.
'One of the challenges with combination therapies is ensuring the right drug dosages and understanding their individual effects.
'It is extremely encouraging that this study not only demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach but also shows that the therapy was generally well tolerated by patients.'
Reacting to the findings, Dr Simon Vincent, director of research, support and influencing at Breast Cancer Now, said: 'This is a significant breakthrough and we're proud that it builds on a series of discoveries that our funded scientists have been making at the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, since it opened 25 years ago.
'We now hope to see this new combination therapy can be licensed by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) and assessed by Nice (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and the Scottish Medicine Council as soon as possible so that it can reach the NHS patients who could benefit from it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC News
3 days ago
- NBC News
A chilling risk of recreational nitrous oxide use: Frostbite
Recreational use of nitrous oxide — often referred to as whippets or laughing gas — left a 23-year-old with frostbite in his mouth and throat, according to a report of the man's case published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Recreational nitrous oxide use has been on the rise in recent years: Data from America's Poison Centers shows a nearly 60% increase in reports of intentional exposure to the drug from 2023 to 2024. The Food and Drug Administration has issued several warnings advising people against inhaling nitrous oxide products, which are often marketed to be used to make whipped cream. Frostbite occurs when ice crystals form in the skin and deeper tissues, damaging cells and disrupting blood flow. Dr. Michael Patrizio, associate director of acute care at the University of Virginia, said getting frostbite in the mouth and throat from inhaling nitrous oxide is rare, but not unheard of. The patient told Patrizio that his painful swallowing and hoarseness started immediately after he inhaled nitrous oxide directly from a canister two days prior. White blotches — the frostbitten tissue — swelled on the roof of his mouth, uvula and throat. 'Had he not been forthcoming with that information, that probably wouldn't have been something that crossed my mind,' said Patrizio, who saw the man at the campus's outpatient clinic and was a co-author of the case report. 'I would have thought a viral infection — mono, strep throat — or an STI in the throat.' When a compressed gas expands, it can cool to as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit — this is why compressed gas is used to cool refrigerators. Canisters of compressed nitrous oxide work in the same way. When the gas is released, it cools, sometimes drastically. 'This has the potential to cause frostbite,' Dr. Cara Borelli, an addiction medicine physician at Yale University, said in an email. Borelli wasn't involved with the patient's case. Surgeons use compressed nitrous oxide to perform ablations, a procedure that uses extreme cold or heat to remove tissue. 'If you have someone using drugs in an uncontrolled setting, you may certainly be doing damage to tissue that you don't want to be doing damage to,' said Dr. Jeffrey Ruwe, an emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic who wasn't involved with the man's case. Overall, cases of frostbite from nitrous oxide canisters are rare, though they are likely underreported, Patrizio said. More commonly than in the mouth and throat, illicit nitrous oxide use leads to frostbite burns on the thighs and hands, since people hold chilled canisters and fill balloons with the gas, which allows the gas to warm before people inhale it. Frostbite can be serious — at least several people have required skin grafts and surgery due to nitrous oxide burns on their legs and hands — however 'that's not really the risk people think of,' Patrizio said. The more common risks of recreational nitrous oxide use include a ruptured lung, from inhaling the gas too deeply, and a lack of oxygen in the brain, he said. It can also cause vitamin deficiencies that can lead to potentially fatal neurological problems. 'Nitrous oxide inactivates vitamin B12, meaning that the body's B12 does not function as it is supposed to,' Borelli said. The body uses vitamin B12 to synthesize myelin, a substance made from fats and proteins that surrounds and insulates nerves. If this sheath breaks down, it can cause serious neurological issues. After chronic use, nitrous oxide can cause nervous system and brain changes that can progress from weakness and unsteadiness to paralysis. 'That's very real,' Ruwe said. Patrizio told his frostbitten patient to use over-the-counter pain medication, lidocaine and a steroid paste to reduce inflammation and swelling while his frostbite healed. Ruwe said this may not be the case for everyone. 'Frostbite is very, very rare, but if inhaled directly from a higher-pressure tank, or if it causes airway swelling, it could be time-sensitive and potentially deadly,' he said.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Men become infested with parasites after receiving infected organs across multiple states
Two New England men have been left riddled with parasitic worms after receiving a common organ transplant. The patients, 61 and 66, had each received one kidney each from the same donor, who was from the Caribbean. The first patient, who was not named, received the transplant from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and initially improved. But 10 weeks later, the man was re-admitted due to suffering from severe thirst and abdominal discomfort. A large purple rash, like a constellation of bruises, had also erupted across the skin of his stomach. The second patient, who was also unnamed, received their transplant at Albany Medical Center in New York and also improved at first. Eleven weeks later, however, he was also re-admitted with fatigue, worsening kidney function and a plummeting white blood cell count. Doctors were initially stumped as to what could be behind the complications, having ruled out Covid, the flu and bacterial infections — after a course of antibiotics did not improve their symptoms. However, samples from the first patient's abdomen, lungs and skin revealed a small ringworm called Strongyloides stercoralis. The second patient, meanwhile, was also found to have larvae from Strongyloides stercoralis in his stool. The bizarre cases were revealed in The New England Journal of Medicine last month, with doctors treating them as a cautionary tale for better regulation surrounding organ donation. Transplant organs, donors and recipients normally go through a battery of tests to minimize the risk of the organs being rejected by the body. Blood is tested for antibodies that might attack other tissues, while donors and recipients are both evaluated for infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis. They are also usually tested for parasitic infections, but it's possible the donor was not evaluated for these. About 48,000 organ transplants take place in the US every year, of which kidney transplants are the most common — making up two-thirds of these procedures. The most common complication of the procedure is infection, which is common since recipients have to take medications that suppress their immune system. Doctors treating one of the man called the New England Donor Services and found the kidney donor had antibodies for Strongyloides, meaning the donor had encountered the parasite at some point. The recipients only had Strongyloides antibodies after their procedures and not before, meaning they likely got it from their organ donor. Strongyloides is a roundworm parasite that spreads by directly penetrating human skin that gets into contact with soil. Infections lead to stomach aches, diarrhea and rashes, but most patients don't know they're infected. The CDC doesn't consistently track US cases, though it's estimated Strongyloides hospitalizes thousands each year. The first patient was treated with ivermectin, a deworming drug touted for but largely unproven to treat conditions like Covid and cancer. The second patient received ivermectin and the similar drug albendazole. Both men have fully recovered.
Scottish Sun
18-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
We've spent thousands on ‘Mounjaro makeovers' – it's the king of fat jabs but it left us with shocking side effect
WITH Mounjaro users shedding nearly double the amount of weight compared to its other counterparts, it's no wonder the injection is being dubbed the 'king' of fat jabs. But with such drastic results, it's becoming all too common for users to experience side effects they may never have expected - and when that happens, you get yourself booked in for a £10,000 'Mounjaro makeover'. 8 Abbie Rose, 28, started taking Mounjaro in December but was stunned at the shocking side effect 8 Abbie says the fat jab helped her achieve her dream body - but she still had to go under the knife 8 Claire Wilson, stomach pictured, was left with an abundance of loose skin after losing three stone on Mounjaro After injecting the wonder drug for mere months and watching the weight drop off stone by stone, Brits up and down the country are feeling healthier and sexier. But when the fat is gone and all but stretched skin remains, many will feel disheartened at not having achieved their dream body with a quick fix. Mounjaro users are more likely to experience saggy, excess skin compared to those using other brands of fat jabs because of rapid weight loss, according to cosmetic surgeons. Mum-of-three Claire Wilson was one of them - shedding three stone on Mounjaro, she was left with an abundance of loose skin around her middle, which she just couldn't stomach. She told The Sun how the fat jab completely changed her life when she hit 13st after turning 40. But it wasn't the end of her weight loss journey as she'd hoped - and she decided to go under the knife for a £10,000 'Mounjaro makeover' to achieve her dream figure. The makeover is a combination of cosmetic procedures sought by patients to remove excess skin after rapid weight loss. Claire had four pounds of flabby skin removed, finally hit her goal weight of 9st and cried with joy when she looked in the mirror for the first time. The 43-year-old from Swansea told Fabulous: 'I've spent decades hating my body. 'But I burst into tears the second I saw my new, flat stomach. Mounjaro Weight Loss injection from Ozeias Se Silva Known As Ozzy Tudo 'I used to hate my reflection and looking at myself but the second I had the surgery and saw how different I looked, I just couldn't believe it. It's changed my life.' 'King' of fat jabs Mounjaro - dubbed the "King Kong" of weight loss jabs - helped people shed significantly more weight than it's rival Wegovy, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found. Though both drugs were effective for weight loss, Mounjaro not only helped people shed more pounds, but they also lost more inches around their waist. Mounjaro's active ingredient is tirzepatide, while Wegovy's is semaglutide - the same active drug in diabetes jab Ozempic. One study, by weight loss programme Second Nature, found that Mounjaro users experienced a 21.4% reduction in body weight, while Ozempic patients saw a 11.2% reduction over a 40 week period. I've had three children so like lots of mums I ended up with loose skin but losing weight on Mounjaro it became even more evident. Claire Wilson Dr Darren Smith, a New York cosmetic surgeon, explained how the rapid weight loss from Mounjaro can contribute to excess skin laxity. Explaining the trend, which is rising in popularity in the US, he told his Instagram followers: 'The term 'Mounjaro Makeover' is increasingly popular, and this is a term I use to describe any combination of operations that we're performing to help you get rid of extra skin that you're seeing after weight loss with Mounjaro. 'In many cases, patients that are using Mounjaro and losing a significant amount of weight over a very short period of time might experience even more significant skin laxity than patients that are doing it with Ozempic. 'Patients on Mounjaro are often achieving nearly bariatric surgical levels of weight loss, and these patients are having operations similar to those patients after bariatric surgery to get rid of extra skin.' 'I hated my excess skin' Claire weighed 13st at her heaviest and while she would have liked to work off her weight gain in the gym, like she had done in the past, she noticed her metabolism slowed down when she hit 40. She says: 'I've gained and lost around three stone three or four times in my life. 'I'd ended up around 13st but I'm only 5ft 2in and when I tried to exercise and diet the weight off this time around, I simply couldn't.' Claire began researching fat jabs and decided to try Mounjaro. She added: 'I saw so many people on social media losing over 9lbs a week. I was keen to try it for myself.' Claire started using the jabs in May 2024 and the weight began to drop away at a rapid rate. 8 Mum-of-three Claire, stomach pictured, spent thousands on a 'Mounjaro Makeover' and had four pounds of flabby skin chopped off 8 Like Claire, Abbie also had a makeover which consisted of a tummy tuck, muscle repair and liposuction 8 Abbie reveals she was 'over the moon' after seeing the results of her makeover She says: 'It was amazing. It totally changed my appetite. I was on a 2.5mg dose to begin with, which went up to 5mg. That was my maximum dose which I'm still on now. It's a maintenance dose I take every two weeks to keep my appetite low." But by September of that year, she noticed that her excess skin was becoming an issue. 'I've had three children so like lots of mums I ended up with loose skin but losing weight on Mounjaro it became even more evident,' she says. 'I absolutely hated it, which is when I started thinking about a Mounjaro makeover. 'I spent over £1,000 on Mounjaro and then saved £10,000 to have tummy tuck surgery. 'I hated the excess skin and what I looked like, my self-esteem was terrible and it affected every area of my life.' Claire's surgery last month - after she hit her target weight of nine stone - was the culmination of 13 months of weight loss. I'm so happy with the new body I have, getting rid of my flabby tummy has changed my life Claire Wilson Her surgeon, Iain Whitaker; professor of Plastic Surgery, and The Welsh Representative on BAAPS Council, performed a 'fleur de lys' surgery with a horizontal and vertical incision before removing around 4lbs(1.75kg) of Claire's excess skin. She says: 'I couldn't believe the amount of skin they removed, there was so much, the video (taken by the medical team) was incredible when I first saw it, around 1.75kg of skin was removed. 'I've been in a bit of discomfort but the recovery has been incredible. I'm still bound at the moment to help reduce scarring but then the surgery was only recently. 'My recovery is ongoing but I'm so happy with the new body I have, getting rid of my flabby tummy has changed my life.' Claire says she can't wait to get into a bikini this summer. She adds: 'It's incredible how much my confidence has changed. 'Having a Mounjaro makeover has completely changed how I feel about myself. I feel sexier than I have in years and have had loads of compliments from friends.' 'Easy way out' Meanwhile, Abbie Rose, 28, started taking Mounjaro in December and credits it with helping her achieve her dream body. The mum of three from Shropshire says: 'I was a size 12 and weighed 11 stone 9lbs. 'I think there can be some negativity around weight loss injections but they're amazing. 'I think if they help people and give them their confidence back, that's amazing.' But, like Claire, she was left with extra skin around her stomach, so she booked in with Professor Whitaker to help her hit her ideal weight of 9st 7lbs. She says: 'My Mounjaro makeover consisted of a tummy tuck, muscle repair and liposuction, it was £9,000. 'It was uncomfortable but manageable when it came to the pain and the recovery. I was over the moon when I first saw my results. The Mounjaro Makeover can remove skin from anywhere with the most common areas being the abdomen, arms, breasts, or thighs – or a combination Professor Whitaker 'I spent £300 on Mounjaro injections and the Mounjaro makeover isn't something I went into with my eyes closed. 'I spoke to lots of friends and family about it and they were supportive of my decision and knew it was something I had wanted for a long time, around seven years.' Claire agrees - despite having received negativity, she says she simply couldn't have achieved the body she has now by exercise and diet alone. She told The Sun: 'It's easy for people to say Mounjaro and Mounjaro makeovers are cheating and are the easy way out. 'But I've battled with my weight for years and, thanks to the injections and Professor Whitaker, I'm at the exact weight I want to be, and I have a body I've always dreamed of having.' Professor Whitaker says a patient should be at or near their target weight, with a BMI around 25 or lower, before considering surgery. He says: 'That ensures the skin is looser and the fat thickness is reduced, which reduces tension on the closure, better blood supply, reduced complications and leads to better results. 8 She took the plunge once she hit her ideal weight of 9st 7lbs 8 Abbie says her friends and family were supportive of her choice to get the makeover 'Surgery is most successful when the weight is stable. Some people may still have a bit to lose post-surgery, but they've already done the hard work.' He adds: 'The hashtag #mounjaromakeover started in the US but like a lot of trends, it's come to the UK. Now dozens of women have shared their Moujaro makeovers online." Mounjaro is approved for weight loss in the UK, while Ozempic is only approved for type 2 diabetes. Gemma Collins and Jeremy Clarkson are two of the Brit stars who have admitted using Mounjaro, while Sharon Osbourne, Amy Schumer and Oprah Winfrey have discussed their Ozempic journeys. Prof Whitaker adds: 'The Mounjaro Makeover can remove skin from anywhere with the most common areas being the abdomen, arms, breasts, or thighs – or a combination. 'Each has its pros and cons, but the abdomen is by far the most common and the area I'm asked for when it comes to Mounjaro Makeovers the most.' Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. Prof Whitaker says surgery after large weight loss on Mounjaro is honestly the only option. 'The reality is, once you've lost that kind of weight, no matter what anyone says, it's unlikely you can bring the abdominal muscles back together through physio or exercise alone. And you certainly can't remove the excess skin without surgery. 'The idea that injections, lasers, suction, or radiofrequency devices can meaningfully tighten that skin after this volume of weight loss is, frankly, complete nonsense. 'None of those approaches are effective for the kind of skin laxity we're talking about here. The only real solution is surgery.'
