Safety of AZD4547 in breast cancer patients
Hormone therapy is a common and effective treatment for breast cancer that is fuelled by oestrogen. However, over time, the cancer can become resistant and start growing again despite medicines like anastrozole or letrozole. This phase II clinical trial is looking at whether adding an experimental drug called AZD4547 can help overcome this resistance. AZD4547 works by blocking specific growth signals in cancer cells. Researchers are comparing two main approaches: continuing anastrozole or letrozole alongside AZD4547, versus switching to a different standard hormone medicine called exemestane on its own. The study aims to find out if the new combination is safe, manageable, and better at slowing down or shrinking the cancer. It is open to post-menopausal women whose breast cancer has returned or progressed while taking anastrozole or letrozole.
Auf einen Blick
Worum geht es in dieser Studie?
Many breast cancers rely on the hormone oestrogen to grow. These are called oestrogen receptor-positive (or ER-positive) breast cancers. Common treatments known as aromatase inhibitors—such as anastrozole and letrozole—work by lowering oestrogen levels in the body to starve the cancer cells. While these medicines often work well for a long time, the cancer can eventually find new ways to grow and spread.
When standard hormone therapy stops working, doctors typically switch patients to another type of hormone tablet, such as exemestane. However, researchers are searching for better ways to keep the cancer under control. In some tumours, a cell-signalling pathway called FGFR becomes overactive, helping cancer cells survive even when oestrogen is blocked. AZD4547 is a new targeted drug designed specifically to turn off this growth signal.
This trial investigates whether combining AZD4547 with your existing hormone therapy (anastrozole or letrozole) can stop the cancer from growing better than switching to exemestane alone. By taking part, patients help doctors understand whether targeting both oestrogen and the FGFR pathway at the same time is safe and offers a more effective treatment option for the future.
Wichtige Erkenntnisse
- Tests whether adding AZD4547 to existing hormone therapy works better than standard exemestane.
- Aimed at post-menopausal women with ER-positive breast cancer that has progressed on anastrozole or letrozole.
- Requires a tumour biopsy to check for specific tumour markers.
- Participation includes regular scans, hospital visits, and blood tests to monitor your safety.
- Taking part is entirely voluntary, and you can stop at any time.
Wer könnte berechtigt sein?
This trial is for women aged 25 and over who have gone through the menopause and have ER-positive breast cancer. It is designed specifically for people whose cancer has returned or continued to grow while they were taking either anastrozole or letrozole.
To join, you must be generally well enough to carry out daily activities and look after yourself (an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1). You will also need to have at least one area of cancer that can be measured on a scan such as a CT or MRI scan so the doctors can track your response to treatment.
Because the study investigates a targeted pathway, participants in the main part of the trial will need to provide a small sample of tumour tissue (a biopsy) so the laboratory can check for specific cell markers. Your trial doctor will review your medical history, previous treatments, and scan results to see if this study is suitable for you.
Könnte diese Studie für Sie geeignet sein?
Beantworten Sie diese kurzen Fragen, um zu sehen, ob Sie möglicherweise berechtigt sind. Dies ist nur ein Leitfaden – das Forschungsteam trifft die endgültige Entscheidung.
- I am a woman aged 25 or over.
- I have gone through the menopause.
- I have oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer.
- My cancer has grown or returned while taking anastrozole or letrozole.
- I am generally active and able to look after myself day-to-day.
- I am willing to have a tumour biopsy and regular hospital check-ups.
Was beinhaltet die Teilnahme?
If you take part, you will be allocated to a treatment group. Depending on the part of the trial you join, you may receive the new drug AZD4547 as tablets along with your current hormone therapy (anastrozole or letrozole), or you may receive standard exemestane tablets. You will be told exactly how and when to take your medicines at home.
You will need to visit the hospital regularly, especially during the first few months. Visits will involve routine health checks, blood tests, physical examinations, and regular scans (such as CT or MRI scans) to check how your cancer is responding. A small tumour biopsy is also required at the start. You will continue the trial treatment for as long as it helps keep your cancer stable and any side effects remain manageable, followed by routine follow-up visits to check on your health.
Potenzielle Risiken und Vorteile
Standorte (6)
- Charing Cross KrankenhausUngefährLondon, England
- Freeman Road HospitalNur StadtNewcastle upon Tyne, England
- AddenbrookesUngefährCambridge, England
- Beatson West of Scotland KrebszentrumNur StadtGlasgow, Scotland
- The ChristieUngefährManchester, England
- Russells Hall HospitalUnbestätigtDudley, England
Häufige Fragen
What is the purpose of this clinical trial?
The trial aims to find out if adding a new drug, AZD4547, to standard hormone treatment is safe and more effective than switching to exemestane for breast cancer that has started growing again.
Do I have to pay to take part?
No. In the UK, clinical trial medications, extra tests, and hospital appointments are provided free of charge through the trial and the NHS. Some travel expenses may also be refunded.
What is a biopsy and why is it needed?
A biopsy is a small sample of tissue taken from the tumour using a needle under local anaesthetic. It is needed so the laboratory can test whether your cancer has the specific protein targets that AZD4547 aims to block.
Kann ich die Studie verlassen, wenn ich meine Meinung ändere?
Yes. You are completely free to leave the trial at any point. Your decision will not change your relationship with your healthcare team or affect the quality of your regular NHS care.
How often will I need to visit the hospital?
You will need to visit more often during the first few weeks for monitoring and blood tests. Once your treatment is settled, visits usually coincide with your regular monthly treatment cycles and scheduled scans.
Wie Sie mehr erfahren können
Philip Badman
Sprechen Sie immer mit Ihrem Hausarzt oder Spezialisten, bevor Sie sich entscheiden, an einer Studie teilzunehmen.
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