Higher Dose Faslodex
Posted 12/18/2009
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Some of you are aware of Faslodex, a "super tamoxifen" like hormonal treatment for women with ER positive breast cancer. It is primarily used in the treatment of metastatic disease and is given as a monthly injection (actually, as two monthly injections as the amount of medication is too much to insert into one syringe). A recent international study has been comparing the standard dose to a double dose and a study presented in San Antonio found that the larger dose was more effective.
So what does this mean? In the case of this study, it meant that the average time to progression of the disease was increased by one month. One month! Although that is statistically significant, it is no where near good enough. When we are told by our doctors or the media or whomever that a particular treatment is better and extends time, it is reasonable to assume that "time" means more than a month.
Although this is definitely a step in the right direction, it is no where near good enough. We need treatments that give us years, not days.
Here is a quote and then a link to read more:
SAN ANTONIO -- Women with metastatic breast cancer had a modest but statistically significant improvement in time to progression when treated with 500 mg of fulvestrant (Faslodex) -- double the usual dose -- data from a multinational Phase III trial showed.
The one-month delay in progression came with no increase in adverse effects, Angelo Di Leo, MD, of the Hospital of Prato in Prato, Italy, said at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
The higher dose was also associated with a trend toward a reduced mortality risk. Other outcomes were similar between the two dose groups.
ttp://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/SABCS/17522
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