New research findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that pembrolizumab, if given in combination with chemo before surgery - and again on its own after surgery - can stop the disease coming back in women with triple negative breast cancer.
Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS trust found that the risk of disease recurrence was 37% lower in patients treated with the drug combination than in those treated with chemo alone.
We issued the following comment in response:
Dr Kotryna Temcinaite, Senior Research Communications Manager at Breast Cancer Now, said:
“Over 8,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer each year. This less common, but often more aggressive type of breast cancer is more common in women with an inherited altered BRCA gene, women under 40 years of age, and black women.
"With those diagnosed facing the frightening reality of limited treatment options, we desperately need new and effective treatments for this disease.
“The risk of triple negative breast cancer returning and spreading to other parts of the body in the first few years after treatment, is higher than it is for other breast cancers.
"But this exciting study shows that when immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab is given in combination with chemotherapy before surgery, and then alone after surgery, it can significantly reduce the likelihood of high-risk triple negative breast cancer recurring, or spreading to other parts of the body - where it becomes incurable secondary breast cancer.
"This promising new treatment could potentially prevent more lives being lost to this devastating disease.
“The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's appraisal of pembrolizumab was paused at the end of last year due to their capacity. But it's expected to restart next month.
"This latest research reinforces how vital it is to avoid any further delays in the assessment of this treatment, so that it can quickly reach patients on the NHS who could benefit from it.
“Anyone seeking information and support can speak to our expert nurses, by calling our free Helpline on 0808 800 6000.”