Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 24, 2025 2 hours, 27 minutes ago
Medical News: New Hope for Early Breast Cancer Patients
A groundbreaking international study led by researchers from Eli Lilly in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center has revealed that the drug abemaciclib (brand name Verzenio) significantly improves survival rates among patients with high-risk early-stage breast cancer. This large-scale clinical trial marks the first time in more than 20 years that a new therapy has demonstrated a major improvement in overall survival for this common cancer type.
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Drug Abemaciclib Boosts Survival
A Major Global Clinical Effort
The phase 3 monarchE trial, conducted across 38 countries and 600 sites, involved over 5,600 participants diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative (HER2−) early breast cancer—a subtype representing about 70% of all breast cancer cases. These patients were considered at higher risk due to cancer spreading to their lymph nodes. In this
Medical News report, researchers found that combining abemaciclib with standard endocrine therapy reduced the risk of death by 15.8% compared to endocrine therapy alone.
Setting a New Standard of Care
After a median follow-up of 6.3 years, the study showed that 86.8% of patients receiving the combined treatment were still alive after seven years, compared to 85% in the control group. This improvement, though appearing modest in percentage, represents a meaningful survival benefit for thousands of patients. Furthermore, those treated with abemaciclib were 33% less likely to have their cancer spread to other parts of the body. Experts say this finding establishes abemaciclib plus endocrine therapy as the new global standard for high-risk, early-stage breast cancer.
How the Drug Works
Abemaciclib is part of a class of drugs known as CDK4/6 inhibitors, which slow down the division of cancer cells by blocking certain proteins that drive tumor growth. Unlike chemotherapy, which attacks rapidly dividing cells throughout the body, abemaciclib targets cancer cells more precisely, minimizing long-term side effects. Patients generally tolerated the treatment well, and researchers reported no new safety issues even years after therapy ended.
A Milestone for Women’s Cancer Treatment
Dr. Matthew Goetz from the Mayo Clinic highlighted that this achievement represents the first major survival improvement in HR+/HER2− early breast cancer in decades. The benefits seen earlier in preventing recurrence now translate into longer lives for patients. As follow-up continues, researchers expect the survival advantage to grow even more over time.
Conclusion
The addition of abemaciclib to hormone therapy offers renewed hope for patients facing high-risk breast cancer, marking a transformative moment in oncology. By reducing both recurrence and death rates, this drug may change how doctors treat one of the world’s most common cancers for years to c
ome.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Annals of Oncology.
https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(25)04948-8/fulltext
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