CALLS have been made for a revolutionary breast cancer drug to be made available to patients in Scotland following its approval by the European Commission.
Everolimus, also known as Afinitor, has been hailed as one of the biggest advances in breast cancer treatment in recent years and could make a difference to the lives of thousands of sufferers.
The drug has been developed to treat women with advanced breast cancer, and trials on 700 patients found that life can be significantly prolonged following diagnosis of the incurable disease.
Manufacturer Novartis says it is now ready for distribution in the UK, where it claims 14,000 patients could benefit every year.
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Scotland has called for it to be made available to patients as soon as possible.
Audrey Birt, Scotland director at the charity, said: "Everolimus is one of the biggest advances in breast cancer treatment in many years. This drug could make a massive difference to thousands of patients with advanced breast cancer.
"While this is by no means a cure, it could give patients several extra months of good quality of life with their families.
"Everolimus needs to be assessed by the Scottish Medicines Consortium but we are strongly backing it to be made available for those who need it."
Breast Cancer Care added that the drug is a "promising step forward for a patient group whose treatment options are currently limited".
Jackie Harris, clinical nurse specialist at the charity, said: "By working with existing therapies, which some tumours can become resistant to, everolimus can delay the need for possible chemotherapy.
"The side-effects of everolimus are generally well tolerated, meaning the extra months of progression-free survival can be accompanied by a valuable improvement in quality of life compared to other treatment options."
The charity added it now awaits the results of further trials and a decision on the drug from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
According to Cancer Research UK, almost 4500 women in Scotland are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, while 1000 women die from the disease annually.
The current life expectancy of advanced breast cancer patients is around 18 to 36 months after diagnosis.
The new drug will treat the most common form of advanced breast cancer – oestrogen receptor-positive – which accounts for approximately 75% of cases.
Stephen Johnston, professor of breast cancer medicine at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Everolimus has the potential to redefine the way this common form of advanced breast cancer is treated and, importantly, offers women an effective alternative to a chemotherapy regime."
The drug slows cancer cell growth by inhibiting the mTOR protein, which regulates tumour cell division, blood vessel growth and cell metabolism.
It also boosts the efficacy of traditional hormone therapies in treating the disease.
Dr Alison Jones, consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Free Hospital and University College London, said: "mTOR is an exciting new target protein in cancer management and seems to act as a 'master switch' because of its involvement in a number of cancers.
"Everolimus is the first licensed mTOR inhibitor in breast cancer and we have already seen the benefits of targeting this pathway in kidney and pancreatic neuroendocrine cancers.
"The potential for effectively targeting this pathway in breast cancer is very exciting."
Everolimus was approved by the European Commission in July this year following the patient trials.
Ibrahim Elhoussieny, UK oncology medical director at Novartis, added: "Our priority is to now ensure the widest access to this treatment for the thousands of eligible patients who could potentially benefit and live longer without their disease progressing.
"Treatment with everolimus gives eligible patients a new option in the battle against advanced breast cancer."
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