New Drug offers Help for Resistant Breast Cancers

tumorshttp://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20091215/targeted-breast-cancer-drug-shrinks-tumorsDec. 15, 2009 (San Antonio) -- A new targeted cancer drug has been shown to shrink tumors in women with metastatic breast cancer after an average of seven other drugs, including Herceptin, failed.


The new drug, called T-DM1, combines Herceptin with a potent chemotherapy drug. It's a Trojan horse approach, where Herceptin homes in on cancer cells and delivers the cancer-killing agent directly to its target.

The women remained cancer-free for an average of seven months -- results unheard of in patients this sick, he says.

All the women, who had breast tumors for an average of three years, had cancer that had metastasized, or spread to other parts of the body. They had been treated with an average of seven different therapies, including Herceptin, Tykerb, and Xeloda, and each had failed.

Busting Loose: Cancer Survivors Tell You What Your Doctor Won't offers information on new treatments for breast cancer, as well as inspiring guidance for survivors.