Metastatic breast cancer (mBC), or stage IV breast cancer, occurs when cancerous cells have spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph to other body parts. Once the cancer has spread to other organs, treatment can become very challenging.
Because mBC quickly spreads to other areas of the body, it can be considered an aggressive type of breast cancer. “Patients with metastatic breast cancer will need to receive personalized treatment for the rest of their lives,” says Tingting Tan, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist and hematologist specializing in breast cancer at City of Hope.
Because there’s no cure for metastatic breast cancer, ongoing clinical trials are crucial for creating more effective treatment options. Dr. Tan says that people with mBC may need to switch treatments when drug resistance occurs or when the cancer progresses.
Clinical trials for metastatic breast cancer aid researchers and medical teams in improving outcomes, managing symptoms, and increasing life expectancy.
Clinical trials are research studies that test new medical interventions on people with various medical conditions, such as metastatic breast cancer.
Here are the four phases of a clinical trial, which include:
“Clinical trials are key to the development of innovative therapies, such as targeted drugs, to fight a wide range of cancers and other diseases and moving them toward FDA approval,” Dr. Tan says.
Participating in a clinical trial for metastatic breast cancer can have many benefits, including access to new treatment options, contribution to scientific research, and comprehensive and attentive medical care.
“For patients with metastatic breast cancer, clinical trials can bring life-changing and potentially even life-saving benefits, particularly for patients whose current treatment has stopped working and need new options,” Dr. Tan says.
Here are the benefits of joining clinical trials for metastatic breast cancer:
Two treatments involved in clinical trials for metastatic breast cancer are targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Targeted therapies involve drugs targeting specific proteins in cancer growth and progression. Clinical trials involving targeted therapies typically test drugs that can intercept these proteins to stop the spread of cancer. Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells. Immunotherapy trials for metastatic breast cancer may test drugs like checkpoint inhibitors (pembrolizumab).
Trials are also being conducted to test chemotherapy combinations with newer targeted therapies to assess their effects on tumor reduction and patient survival rates.
Numerous institutes, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the National Institutes of Health, are currently conducting trials for immunotherapies and targeted therapies.
If you want to participate in a clinical trial, Dr. Tan recommends speaking with your oncologist first.
You can also go online to find clinical trials near you. Resources for metastatic breast cancer trials include the following:
Be sure to discuss your options with your healthcare provider to determine if participating in a clinical trial for metastatic breast cancer is the right treatment option for you.
Every clinical trial is governed by various guidelines. “Guidelines cover the type of disease, age, medical history, current medical condition, and other factors of potential participants,” Dr. Tan explains. “You have to meet the criteria of a clinical trial before you can enroll in it.”
Please be aware that joining a clinical trial can involve risks and a significant time commitment. Speak with your healthcare provider about any potential risks and concerns you may have about participating in cancer research.
Clinical trials remain vital to treating metastatic breast cancer and all cancers. These trials facilitate medical breakthroughs that help manage symptoms and increase disease survival rates. Cancer research continues to rely on participants’ willingness to be at the forefront of testing new therapies.
Your decision to participate in a clinical trial is not just a courageous step in your fight—it is a selfless decision that can contribute to the fight against metastatic breast cancer.
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