More Treatment Options With PBS Listing Of Advanced Breast Cancer Drug From 1 May 2008, Australia
April 9th, 2008 | by admin |National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre welcomes the listing of the breast cancer drug lapatinib (Tykerb®) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the treatment of people with HER-2 positive metastatic or advanced breast cancer.
Lapatinib is taken once daily in tablet form. Clinical trials have shown that when given in combination with chemotherapy, lapatinib slows the development of advanced breast cancer, nearly doubling the length of time it takes for the disease to progress (8.4 months) compared to treatment with chemotherapy alone (4.4 months).
The new PBS listing will take effect from 1 May 2008 providing an additional treatment option for women with HER-2 positive advanced or metastatic breast cancer for whom other treatments, including Herceptin®, have stopped working.
“The Australian Government’s decision to subsidise lapatinib is a commitment not only to improving life expectancy but also quality of life for women with advanced breast cancer,” said Dr Karen Luxford, General Manager National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre.
“The listing of lapatinib on the PBS will provide hope to women with advanced breast cancer across Australia.
“People undergoing treatment for advanced or metastatic breast cancer should discuss with their oncologist or surgeon whether lapatinib is a suitable treatment option for them,” said Dr Luxford.
Notes:
- Lapatinib is only used in the treatment of people with HER-2 positive advanced breast cancer. ‘HER-2 positive’ means these people have a particular protein called ‘HER-2′ on their cancer cells. Approximately 20-25 per cent of people diagnosed with breast cancer each year have HER-2 positive breast cancer - a more aggressive form of the disease.
- Advanced or metastatic breast cancer means the cancer cells have spread from the breast to other areas of the body, such as the bones or lungs. About 15 per cent of women with breast cancer in Australia have advanced or metastatic disease at diagnosis.
- Herceptin® is a targeted breast cancer therapy currently approved for use in Australia in the treatment of women with HER-2 positive advanced breast cancer.
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre is funded by the Australian Government and works with consumers, health professionals, cancer organisations, researchers and governments to improve care and cancer control in breast and ovarian cancer.
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre
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