Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – In Italy, more than 8.200 women live with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. It is one of the most serious and difficult breast cancers to treat, but in recent years, the prognosis for patients has significantly improved. Advances in understanding the disease, the availability of integrated treatments, and the arrival of new drugs have increased the treatment options.
This is the message being delivered today by experts at the webinar "Metastatic Breast Cancer: What's New?" organized by the Italian Association of Multidisciplinary Oncology Groups (AIGOM) to mark National Metastatic Breast Cancer Day. In addition to clinicians, the online event will also feature five representatives from patient associations, and one session will be entirely dedicated to the needs of women affected by the disease.
"Metastatic or advanced breast cancer is no longer incurable, but we have often managed to make it a chronic disease," emphasizes Stefania Gori, president of AIGOM and the Oncology Research Coordination Center at IIRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella. "Triple-negative breast cancer is characterized by the lack of expression of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors.
The most common sites of metastases are the liver, lung, brain, pleura, lymph nodes, and skin. Bones are also very affected, particularly those of the spine, pelvis, femurs, ribs, and skull. It's not always easy to identify the symptoms of the disease, which vary greatly and depend on the location of the metastases. If the tumor doesn't cause any obvious symptoms, it's more likely that the disease will recur or progress. For this reason, we believe it's a priority to raise awareness among both clinicians and patients about this subtype of breast cancer.
The Aigom webinar also includes an appeal to women, caregivers, and clinicians. "All patients diagnosed with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer should undergo BRCA testing," Gori continues. "This must be done regardless of the age of onset of the tumor or the individual's personal or family history. Drugs called PARP inhibitors, which act on the enzyme involved in DNA repair mechanisms, have been available for years. Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated their effectiveness in treating carriers of this mutation, made famous by actress Angelina Jolie. Genetic testing is therefore not only useful for preventive purposes but can also guide the therapeutic decisions of the multidisciplinary team managing the patient. More generally, the treatments we administer have several goals, including improving women's quality of life by reducing the extent of the disease and consequently its symptoms. Thanks to new therapies, it is increasingly possible to continue leading a 'normal' life and therefore to continue with daily activities and work. However, limitations persist due to hospital access for treatment and tests."
"Integrated histomolecular analysis of metastases and the study of circulating tumor DNA via liquid biopsy provide us with crucial information to characterize the disease," continues Nicola Fusco, national councilor for AIGOM and director of Pathology at the European Institute of Oncology, Milan. "Decoding the tumor's biological profile is now a prerequisite for developing truly personalized treatment plans. However, these are complex analyses that lead to complex decisions, which is why a multidisciplinary team is essential: the management of breast cancer patients cannot and should never be entrusted to a single specialist."
"There are over 55 patients in Italy living with metastatic breast cancer, and projections show that their number will continue to grow," concludes the president of Aigom. "Constructive dialogue between oncologist and patient is essential, especially for the most advanced forms of breast cancer. Effective communication is essential, with oncologists helping women understand the pros and cons of all the different treatment options. At Aigom, we aim to foster dialogue among all those experiencing the difficult experience of cancer through online and in-person events."
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