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A phase II trial to assess efficacy and safety of afatinib in extensively pretreated patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

Author: AwadaAhmad, BeckmannMatthias W, Besse-HammerTatiana, CanonJean Luc, De GrèveJacques, DirixLuc, FaschingPeter A, FleischerFrank, GottschalkNina, HarbeckNadia, HarterPhilipp, JonatWalter, NevenPatrick, PiccartMartine, PossingerKurt, SchmidtMarcus, SchulerMartin, SchütteJochen, Uttenreuther-FischerMartina, WindSven

Clinical Trial, Phase IIA Phase II trial is a trial that further evaluates the efficacy and safety of a new drug or treatment, whose safety has been confirmed to some extent in a Phase I trial, in a small number of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Multicenter StudyResearch conducted in collaboration with multiple research institutions. It aims to collect a wide range of data and obtain more generalizable results.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Overview

Afatinib, a drug targeting the ErbB family of proteins, showed limited effectiveness in treating HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. In a phase II study, no patients achieved a complete or partial response. Median progression-free survival was less than 8 weeks. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal and skin-related, but generally manageable with symptom relief and dose adjustments.
Paper Details　
Original Abstract of the Article :
Afatinib (BIBW 2992) is an ErbB-family blocker that irreversibly inhibits signaling from all relevant ErbB-family dimers. Afatinib has demonstrated preclinical activity in human epidermal growth factor receptor HER2 (ErbB2)-positive and triple-negative xenograft models of breast cancer, and clinical...See full text at original site
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引用元：
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3409367/

データ提供：米国国立医学図書館（NLM）

Afatinib: A New Hope for Metastatic Breast Cancer?

The fight against metastatic breast cancer is a constant struggle. In this study, researchers investigated the efficacy and safety of afatinib, an ErbB-family blocker, in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, a particularly difficult-to-treat subtype. Afatinib targets a family of proteins involved in cell growth and survival, offering a potential new strategy for cancer treatment.

The results of this phase II trial were unfortunately disappointing. Afatinib showed limited activity against HER2-negative breast cancer, with no objective responses observed. While the drug was generally well-tolerated, with manageable side effects, it did not demonstrate the desired therapeutic impact. This highlights the need for further research and exploration of new treatment options for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

A New Oasis? Not Quite.

While the results are discouraging, they are not entirely unexpected. Finding effective treatments for metastatic breast cancer, especially in patients who have already undergone multiple therapies, is a challenging endeavor. This research provides important information about afatinib's efficacy and safety, but it also emphasizes the need for continued exploration of new targets and treatment strategies.

Navigating the Desert of Metastatic Breast Cancer

This research serves as a reminder that the journey to find effective treatments for metastatic breast cancer is long and arduous. It is like a camel traversing a vast desert, facing challenges and obstacles along the way. However, even in the face of these challenges, we must persevere in our search for new solutions. Just as a camel relies on its resilience to navigate the desert, we must remain optimistic and determined in our fight against this devastating disease.

Dr.Camel's Conclusion

Afatinib's limited efficacy in this study serves as a reminder that the search for effective treatments for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer is a long and winding journey. We must continue to explore new avenues and strive to find effective treatments for patients facing this challenging disease. Just as a camel adapts to its environment, we must adapt our strategies to find solutions that truly improve the lives of patients.

Date :
  1. Date Completed 2012-12-13
  2. Date Revised 2021-10-21
Further Info :

Pubmed ID

22763464

DOI: Digital Object Identifier

PMC3409367

Related Literature

Article Analysis
・Side Effects of afatinib
SNS
PICO Info
in preparation
Languages

English

Positive IndicatorAn AI analysis index that serves as a benchmark for how positive the results of the study are. Note that it is a benchmark and requires careful interpretation and consideration of different perspectives.

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