The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) announced the results of years of research testing certain drugs against breast cancer. Representatives for UTSW proudly report that their research about treatments will impact the lives of patients and could raise survival rates from the disease.
Trials involving both drugs and immune therapy have been conducted. The results show that newer treatments improve life quality and allow some patients to fully overcome cancer, NBC-5 reports.
Dr. Heather McArthur, a lead clinician at UTSW, told NBC-5 about their research. “[Treatments show] both improved overall survival for patients with metastatic breast cancer and improved cure rates for women with lower stage breast cancer,” McArthur told reporters about the new drugs. “The only way that this type of innovation is possible is through innovative, thoughtful research.”
McArthur and colleagues believe the outlook is good. “There’s also a lot of work being done in identifying new targets that could successfully be targeted by future drugs.” UTSW focused much of their research on how cancer-fighting drugs interact with the body and how cancers develop resistance to certain treatments.
“Why do some drugs work for some period of time and then stop working?” Dr. McArthur says this was one of the questions that their trials and research aimed to answer. As opposed to chemotherapy alone, hormone and immune therapies are starting to pick up support.
The 2021 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress was held earlier in October, and notes from the conference show the effectiveness of new drugs. Kisquali, when paired with other hormone treatments, can extend a patient’s lifespan by up to a year, according to the society’s study. These breakthroughs are likely to change the traditional treatment plans for breast cancer and promote the incorporation of hormone and immune therapies, Everyday Health states.
On Saturday, Dallas will hold their Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk. In NorthPark Center, survivors and supporters will be able to connect during the walk and events.