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| |  Faslodex (ICI 182, 780) Valuable Additional Treatment For Post-Menopausal Women With Advanced Breast Cancer LISBON, PORTUGAL -- October 23, 2001 -- Faslodex (ICI 182, 780), the first of a new class of breast cancer treatments is at least as effective as the leading aromatase inhibitor, Arimidex (anastrozole) for the second-line treatment of advanced disease, according to a new combined data analysis presented for the first time. The new data come from a prospectively planned analysis of the results of two similarly designed studies set up to compare Faslodex 250mg monthly injection with oral Arimidex (anastrozole) 1mg daily in the treatment of post-menopausal women who had already progressed on previous endocrine therapy. The results of the combined analysis, involving data from 851 patients across the two studies, show that at a median follow-up of 15.1 months: The median time to progression on Faslodex was 5.4 months compared with 4.1 months for Arimidex (anastrozole) treatment. Faslodex was associated with clinical benefit (defined as complete response plus partial response plus stable disease for at least 24 weeks) in 43.5 percent of patients vs. 40.9 percent with Arimidex (anastrozole). Although the differences in these efficacy measures did not reach statistical significance, all efficacy endpoints in the analysis favoured Faslodex. Withdrawals due to adverse events were low in both treatment groups (Faslodex 2.8 percent; Arimidex (anastrozole) 1.9 percent). Both treatments also proved to be well tolerated, and quality of life was maintained to a similar extent in both treatment arms. Faslodex is an Estrogen Receptor Downregulator, and represents the first in a new class of breast cancer treatments. Due to its unique mechanism of action, Faslodex works differently to other hormonal breast cancer drugs, in that it binds to the oestrogen receptor in the breast cancer cell, and this interaction results in degradation and loss of the oestrogen receptor. Currently, post-menopausal women with advanced breast cancer, whose tumours have been shown to be dependent on oestrogen for growth and proliferation, are given drugs like tamoxifen that act by blocking oestrogen receptors in the cancer cell, or aromatase inhibitors, such as Arimidex (anastrozole), that inhibit the production of oestrogen in the body, cutting off the tumour’s supply of the hormone. After a period of time, breast tumours can become resistant to these types of treatments and the cancer may progress. Faslodex represents a new way to attack cancer cells that have grown resistant to current hormonal treatment options and, unlike current therapies, is administered as a monthly intramuscular injection, an option which may offer compliance benefits. Professor Anthony Howell, Professor of Medical Oncology, Christie Hospital, Manchester, England and lead study investigator commented, "These are very encouraging results. It indicates that in the future, Faslodex may provide a valuable additional and new treatment option - which works in an unique and different way to currently available therapy - when other treatments such as tamoxifen have failed or resistance has developed - a real step forward for these patients and their families suffering with advanced breast cancer." SOURCE: AstraZeneca Related Link: AstraZeneca.
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