The approval of ribociclib as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer early in Argentina represented relevant news for the medical community, as highlighted by the Institute of Oncology Angel Roffo. “In our country, this tumor represented 35% of cancers in women and more than 22 thousand cases were detected per year, which meant a rate of approximately 80 per 100,000 women. Within Latin America, we are one of the countries with the highest incidence,” he noted. Valeria Caceresmedical oncologist and head of the Clinical Oncology Area of Roffo.
Regular monitoring and early detection offer the best chance of cure in the early breast cancer. The Argentine Society of Mastology specific: “In the initial stages, breast cancer has a 90% cure.”
The population at risk for this disease resides, to a large extent, in women over 40 years of age, although individual and family factors increased the probability of diagnosis.
He National Cancer Institute reported that this pathology remained the main cause of death due to tumors in women in the country, with 6,100 deaths annually.
According to the Ministry of Health of the Nationthe risk was increased by previous treatments with radiation therapy directed to the chest, family history, hormone replacement therapy or certain reproductive conditions, in addition to variables related to the overweightphysical inactivity and excessive alcohol consumption.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer It occurs when breast cells multiply uncontrollably and can originate in different parts, such as the ducts, lobules or connective tissue. “The type of cancer depends on which cells in the breast became cancerous,” explained the CDC. This variety in tumor origin and characteristics determined both treatment options and disease prognosis.
“Breast cancer can present in many ways, The most common is usually the appearance of a painless mass, but it can also be linked to thickening, alteration in the size, shape or appearance of the breast. Skin alterations such as redness, pitting or dimpling, change in the appearance of the nipple or the surrounding skin (areola), and/or abnormal discharge from the nipple were also warning signs. In all cases, immediate medical consultation was essential, as well as carrying out a complete medical examination,” the doctor warned. Caceresboss at Roffo Institute.
The American Cancer Society detailed that breast cancer is divided into subtypes according to the hormonal receptors of estrogen, progesterone and the presence or absence of the HER2 protein. This classification, together with the extent of the disease, defined both the prognosis and the therapeutic options.
The specialist of Roffo he pointed out: “Approximately 50% of recurrences or relapses occurred within 5 years of diagnosis. Relapse in breast cancer patients was a possibility. For this reason, it was very important to intensify treatments beyond surgery, hormone therapy or radiotherapy.”
The scene changed with the approval of ribociclib by the National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) as adjuvant therapy in patients with early breast cancer. This medication, used after surgery, sought to reduce the risk of recurrence or relapse and improve survival in patients with hormone receptor positive (RH+) and HER2 negative (HER2-).
Scientific support came from the results of the NATALEE study, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Annual Meeting 2024in which ribociclib, combined with hormone therapy, reduced the risk of invasive recurrence by a 28.5% compared to hormone therapy alone.
“This therapeutic novelty came to change the evolution of the disease, reducing recurrence rates considerably,” the doctor emphasized Caceres of the Roffo Institute. He added that not only the efficacy but also the safety profile was relevant: “Maintaining the quality of life of the patients was a very important aspect to consider in the treatment. This new therapeutic option, in addition to reducing the probability of relapse, did so in such a way that the toxicity did not alter the daily life of the patients and that was extremely positive since it helped with compliance and adherence.”
The oncologist Victoria Costanzodeputy head of the Clinical Breast Oncology Area at the Alexander Fleming Institute, added: “We are talking about a treatment with curative intent. This scenario occurred when a patient detected early, different treatments were applied to avoid a relapse.”
