The Drug That Helps Cancer Drugs Work Better
The Drug That Helps Cancer Drugs Work Better
Sorafenib (Nexavar) is medication prescribed to interfere with the
growth of cancer cells and slows their spread in the body. It is used by
oncologists to treat advanced renal (kidney) cell carcinoma, as well as
cancer of the liver. Researchers in the U.S. may have found a way to use
Nexavar to overcome resistance to hormone-blocking breast cancer drugs.
They evaluated the drug in 35 women with advanced breast cancer that
was resistant to cancer-fighting drugs known as the aromatase inhibitors.
Examples include exemestane (Aromasin) and anastrozole (Arimidex).
In 23% of women who got both Nexavar and one of these cancer fighting
drugs, tumors appeared to be sensitized to the aromatase inhibitor used,
and either remained unchanged or got smaller.
Conventional treatment of breast cancer includes surgery
(lumpectomy and different types of mastectomy); radiation therapy;
chemotherapy (use of prescription drugs); hormone therapy, such as
with the drug tamoxifen; and targeted therapy such as with antibodies
like trastuzumab (Herceptin) that block growth of the factor protein
HER2.