'Transformational' new drug could stop breast cancer tumours before they grow, trial finds

Core Insights - A new drug, camizestrant, has shown promising results in the Serena-6 trial for treating hormone-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, potentially delaying the need for chemotherapy and improving patient outcomes [1][2][5] - The trial demonstrated a 52% reduction in disease progression for patients using camizestrant compared to standard therapies, marking a significant advancement in precision medicine [2][5] - The study involved over 3,000 patients across 23 countries and highlighted the effectiveness of using blood tests to monitor cancer DNA changes for treatment adjustments [5][10][12] Drug Efficacy - Patients taking camizestrant experienced cancer stabilization for an average of 16 months, compared to approximately 9 months for other treatments [6] - Only 1% of patients discontinued the drug due to side effects, indicating a relatively favorable safety profile [6] Clinical Significance - The results from the Serena-6 trial are expected to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, emphasizing the importance of this research in the oncology field [10] - The trial is noted as the first worldwide study to utilize blood tests for early detection of treatment resistance, which could lead to more personalized treatment strategies for advanced breast cancer [10][12][13]