Date of presentation: December 12, 2013
In an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial, the investigational drug ganetespib produced tumor shrinkage or stable disease in 7 of the first 11 patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer who were enrolled in the trial. These results were presented at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Ganetespib is an investigational drug that targets a protein known as heat shock protein (Hsp) 90. Hsp90 is necessary for the function of several other proteins that are known to play an important role in cancer. In addition to breast cancer, ganetespib is being studied for the treatment of lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and hematologic (blood) cancers.
The current results come from an ongoing clinical trial known as ENCHANT-1. The study is testing the activity of ganetespib among women with advanced HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer. Study participants are treated with 12 weeks of ganetespib prior to standard first-line treatment.
- Among the first 11 women with triple-negative breast cancer, two had tumor shrinkage and five had stable disease. One of the women who responded to treatment had no detectable cancer (complete clinical response) at her 12-week physical exam.
- Among the first 4 women with HER2-positive breast cancer, three had tumor shrinkage and one had stable disease.
- Side effects of ganetespib include diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea.
These preliminary results suggest that ganetespib causes tumor shrinkage in some women with advanced triple-negative or HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. Enrollment in this trial is ongoing. Additional results will be presented at another medical meeting next year.