CDK4/6 inhibitors are a new class of drugs that have shown promise in the treatment of advanced ER- positive breast cancer. Cyclin dependent kinases (CDK) regulate the process of cell division, required for growth. The thought is that if we can block CDKs, then cells won’t multiply and cancer can be slowed or stopped. This approach is not new. CDK inhibitors have been tested in over 60 clinical trials since 1998 but with limited success until recently. Previous attempts used inhibitors that blocked all different types of CDKs. New drugs are more specific for blocking only CDK4 and CDK6, making them more effective with fewer side effects.
CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Hormone Receptor Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
At the AACR Annual Meeting on April 1, BCRF Investigator, Hope Rugo, discussed the clinical trials that led to the approval of two CDK4/6 inhibitors in breast cancer: palbociclib (Ibrance®) which was approved in 2016 and ribociclib (Kisqali®) which was approved this year. A third drug, abemaciclib, is showing promising results in clinical trials…
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