A new breast cancer treatment that could benefit thousands of women with the “Jolie gene” each year has moved closer to approval after trials showed it improved survival.
Researchers found that when the drug olaparib was added to standard treatment it could cut the risk of women dying by 32 per cent.
Up to 2,000 women a year in the UK would be expected to be eligible. The Olympia trial, in women with high-risk, early-stage breast cancer who have inherited faults in their BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, had earlier shown it could cut the risk of cancer returning.
The study will follow women for a decade, but it has now been running for long enough to show that it also improves survival.
The new results will pave the way for regulators such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to consider approving the drug’s use on the NHS.
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Olaparib, developed by the pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and MSD, is based on research first carried out by the Institute for Cancer Research, London (ICR).
Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of the ICR, said: “This is a major step forward in treatment of early-stage inherited breast cancer. Olaparib has major benefits for this group of patients, increasing their chances of remaining cancer-free and potentially being cured after initial treatment. We hope olaparib will now be licensed in Europe and approved in the UK for NHS patients without delay.”
Olaparib works by preventing cancer cells from repairing their DNA.
The Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie had both breasts removed in 2013 as a preventative measure after finding that she had the BRCA1 gene.
The trial involved 1,836 patients who had undergone standard treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapies and radiotherapy. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 300mg of olaparib twice a day or a placebo for one year.
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The trial’s steering committee chairman, Andrew Tutt, a professor of oncology at the ICR and King’s College London, said: “Today’s results are great news for many women with inherited breast cancer . . . I hope to see BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing used for more women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, so that we can determine who can benefit from this personalised treatment approach.”
The drug is licensed in Europe for types of advanced prostate and breast cancer, as well as ovarian and pancreatic cancers, but not yet for early-stage breast cancer. The Food and Drug Administration in the United States approved it for that use last week.
The drug is available for NHS-funded treatment in England and Wales only for advanced ovarian cancer.
Dr Simon Vincent of the Breast Cancer Now charity said: “We’re pleased Nice is assessing olaparib for use on the NHS, and hope this groundbreaking study’s continued success helps drive a positive decision.”
