Breast cancer drug boosts survival by 52 per cent in young women, study claims

A NEW drug boosts survival by more than half in younger women with incurable breast cancer, research shows.

Campaigners are hailing ribociclib as “one of the most important advances for decades”.

Up to 1,500 pre-menopausal women a year could benefit from taking it — but only around half currently get it on the NHS.

The trials show the daily tablets keep the disease at bay for 11 months longer than standard treatments for advanced cancer.

It means patients can delay having chemotherapy.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology’s conference in Chicago was told that ribociclib works by blocking proteins that feed tumour growth.

Researchers at the University of California found that after 3½ years, patients on the drug had a 70 per cent chance of being alive.

It compared to 46 per cent for those on standard treatment alone — a survival difference of 52 per cent.

A total of 672 women below 59 who had advanced breast cancer took part.

Lead researcher Dr Sara Hurvitz said: “It is good news for women with this terrible disease.”

Baroness Delyth Morgan, at Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now, said: “The way it slows cancer growth represents one of the greatest advances in breast cancer research in recent decades.”

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