
Abemaciclib: A Game Changer for Early Breast Cancer? New Insights from Real-World Use
2025-05-24
Author: Siti
Revolutionizing Early Breast Cancer Treatment
Abemaciclib has emerged as a groundbreaking option for adult patients facing hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and HER2-negative (HER2–) early breast cancer, especially those with node-positive status at high risk of recurrence. This new study dives into clinical characteristics and how well patients stick to this treatment in the real world following its FDA approval.
A Closer Look at the Study
Data from Flatiron Health’s electronic database was meticulously analyzed, focusing on adult patients who began abemaciclib treatment from October 2021, when the drug was approved, through November 2022. These patients were prescribed the medication at a dosage of 150 mg twice daily. The researchers aimed to measure treatment persistence, defined as the percentage of patients continuing with abemaciclib three months post-initiation, despite any medication gaps up to 60 days.
Key Findings: Who Are the Patients?
The study spotlighted a cohort of 354 patients with a median follow-up of about 8.8 months. The median age was 56, with over a quarter being 65 or older. Racial diversity stood out, with 12.7% identifying as Black and 4.0% as Asian. A significant portion (80.8%) received their treatment in community settings, indicating broad access. Notably, more than half (55.4%) were postmenopausal.
Health Status and Treatment Background
Performance status revealed that nearly 58% had an ECOG score of 0, indicating they were fully active, with some (25.1%) experiencing mild symptoms. Comorbidities were prevalent; roughly 33.9% had at least one, with diabetes being the most common at 14.1%. Most patients were diagnosed with advanced stages—41.8% with stage II and 38.4% with stage III disease.
Treatment Journey to Abemaciclib
Patients typically initiated abemaciclib treatment approximately 11.1 months after their initial breast cancer diagnosis. Prior to this, a striking 96.3% had undergone radiotherapy, and 83.1% had received chemotherapy, with almost half (46.3%) receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Interestingly, 74% began endocrine therapy shortly before starting with abemaciclib.
Impressive Persistence Rates
The findings reported that at the three-month mark, a robust 81.6% of patients adhered to their abemaciclib treatment. Some (5.6%) returned to treatment after a break exceeding 60 days, but 11.3% chose to discontinue due to adverse effects. This highlights the overall tolerability of the treatment in everyday clinical settings.
Conclusion: A Shift in Early Breast Cancer Care?
The study reveals a more diverse population, older and less fit than those in clinical trials, suggesting a significant shift in who receives this treatment. With a high persistence rate at three months, abemaciclib appears to be a well-tolerated and effective option for patients battling early-stage breast cancer, potentially changing how this condition is treated in everyday practice.