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A research paper published today in The Lancet Oncology demonstrates that the drug enobosarm, a selective androgen receptor modulator that stimulates the male sex hormone receptor, has antitumor effects in patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
Lead author Professor Carlo Palmieri from the University of Liverpool and Clatterbridge Cancer Center NHS Foundation Trust said: “These results are very encouraging: we have shown that in advanced/metastatic breast cancer, the use of enobosarm may result in clinical benefit, and is the first clinical evidence that an estrogen receptor-free approach with a selective androgen receptor modulator can result in clinical benefit. This builds on the preclinical evidence we published in Natural medicine“.
For at least 40 years, treatment of this type of breast cancer has focused on directly targeting and inhibiting estrogen receptor activity. This new study therefore tested a completely different approach.
The orally administered drug enobosarm is a selective androgen receptor modulator, which can stimulate androgen receptor activity in breast cancers. The androgen receptor is a tumor suppressor in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
The international, multi-site study led by Dr Beth Overmoyer of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, USA, evaluated the efficacy and safety of enobosarm in 136 postmenopausal women with locally advanced or locally advanced breast cancer. metastatic ER-positive, HER2-negative (HER2 is a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, which promotes the growth of cancer cells). Enobosarm was found to have antitumor effects and to be well tolerated without significant impact on quality of life.
“These data support the development and evaluation of the effectiveness of enobosarm and other agents that stimulate the androgen receptor for the treatment of AR-positive, ER-positive, and HER2-negative advanced breast cancer,” according to research.
More information:
A Phase 2 Open-Label Randomized Study of Enobosarm, a Novel Oral Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator 1, in Androgen Receptor-Positive, Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer, The Lancet Oncology (2024).
Provided by the University of Liverpool
Quote: Study shows clinical benefit of new way to treat ER+ advanced breast cancer (February 8, 2024) retrieved February 8, 2024 from
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