Linda Kelly, a 67-year-old with advanced breast cancer that has metastasized

Linda Kelly, a 67-year-old with advanced breast cancer that has metastasized to her bones and chest wall, relates how a new medication has granted her additional years to cherish life and travel with her husband. "The drug allows you to lead a normal life, making you forget you have cancer," she shares about capivasertib, a medication recently endorsed for NHS use in England and Wales, which is now available for funding in England.

Linda is among over a thousand women with incurable breast cancer who may benefit from this treatment, which has been shown to slow disease progression. While this offers another potential option for those battling breast cancer, a charity advocates for quicker approvals of such treatments. An avid gardener and cyclist, Linda keeps herself active by riding 60 miles each week and practicing pilates. She praises the "fantastic" results from capivasertib, which is taken twice daily in pill form. The side effects have been minimal, allowing her to travel to New Zealand with her husband Neil last year and plan a trip to the United States this year.

"It feels like the drug is effective, which brings a sense of calm; it has given me nearly four extra years," she explains, adding that it has also instilled hope. "This experience prompts you to reflect on your life and consider your future aspirations, and now I feel well enough to pursue those plans with confidence." However, results can vary. In clinical trials involving 708 women, capivasertib combined with hormone therapy doubled the time it took for cancer to progress, extending it from 3.6 months to 7.3 months, with tumor shrinkage observed in 23% of participants. Prof. Nick Turner, the lead researcher and professor of medical oncology at the Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden, notes, "This drug presents a highly effective option that can provide long-term benefits for many, and it can significantly delay the need for chemotherapy, which many women dread due to side effects." Advanced breast cancer is increasingly treatable, and there is a continual push for more compassionate and effective therapies. Capivasertib, sanctioned by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), will be financed through the Cancer Drugs Fund in England, although funding status in Wales remains undetermined. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the UK, affecting one in seven women, and 75% of them survive for a decade or more following diagnosis. When cancer recurs and spreads, treatment focuses on controlling the disease, alleviating symptoms, and enhancing quality of life. Potential treatments encompass chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and medications aimed at halting cancer growth—either by blocking hormones, enhancing the immune response, or targeting cancer cell proliferation. Capivasertib is a targeted therapy that disrupts the activity of a protein known as AKT, which is involved in cancer growth. The drug's development began two decades ago, and researchers assert it is the most effective treatment for advanced cancer to date. It is produced by AstraZeneca. The drug is intended for patients with specific gene mutations found in up to half of those with hormone receptor-positive secondary breast cancer, the most common type, which feeds off estrogen. Prof. Peter Johnson, clinical director for cancer at NHS England, remarked that capivasertib provides "an extra option" for those whose cancer has progressed despite previous hormone therapies, although it may not be suitable for everyone. Claire Rowney, CEO of the charity Breast Cancer Now, expressed her delight that the drug would offer many the "hope of more precious time to do what matters most." However, she criticized the delays in getting access to the drug after its initial rejection by NICE and called for expedited approval for breast cancer treatments.

"NHS England must implement swift genetic testing to ensure eligible patients can access capivasertib without further delays," she stated, noting that Scotland should also prioritize funding to ensure access for patients across the UK. In a discussion on BBC Radio 4's Today program, Prof. Johnson explained that NICE must thoroughly assess evidence when approving new treatments for the NHS, which includes evaluations of cost.

"It's essential to ensure that treatments we introduce are cost-effective for the NHS, particularly in challenging financial times," he remarked. Over the past seven years, NICE has approved 24 out of 25 breast cancer treatment assessments, demonstrating its commitment to effective therapies.
BBC