According to a study presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Atlanta, a new medication, Tykerb works better in the case of metastatic breast cancer. The study showed that women with Erb2 (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer who did not get positive results by using Herceptin, showed positive signs with the use of Tykerb. Tykerb combined with an oral chemotherapy (Xeloda), twofold the duration for disease progression compared to chemotherapy alone.
It blocks the activity of two growth factors, ErbB1 and ErbB2 that uphold expansion and endurance of cancer cells. Professor Stephen Birrell of Flinders Medical Centre breast cancer unit said that this is an important development. However, the preparation cost of the drug is the real downside. It will take $500 million for a drug company to table the drug.
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