Importance of Prescribing CDK4/CDK6 Inhibitors for Breast Cancer Patients in Cancer Genomic Medicine in Japan

O’Sullivan et al reported that treatment with CDK4/6i is a fundamental part of the HR+ ERBB2− metastatic breast cancer (MBC) therapy paradigm, however medical researchers must continue efforts to identify patients with HR+ early breast cancer (EBC) and MBC most likely to benefit from CDK4/6 Inhibitors, and to optimally sequence treatment, should afford greater insights into the discordant results from the metastatic and adjuvant CDK4/6 Inhibitors trials.

From December 2019 to April 2023, in cancer genomic medicine at a Japanese national university, new therapies for total of 2991 patients with malignances have been considered by cancer genome testing (Ncc oncopanel test: 679 cases, FoundationOne CDx test: 2312 cases).
To date, 1187 cases (39.7%) of patients have been detected with pathogenic variants by cancer genome testing.
Furthermore, 365 cases (12.2%) of patients were treated with anti-tumor drugs selected by cancer genome testing.

Currently, in cancer genomic medicine in Japan, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer, for patients with high CDK4 or CDK6 expression (copy number >20) and CDKN2A/B gene deficiency, Prescription of CDK4/CDK6 inhibitors has been recommended. Therefore, in cancer genomic medicine in Japan, the number of cancer patients for whom CDK4/CDK6 inhibitors were recommended is 23, which is very small.
 

In other country, treatment with CDK4/6 Inhibitors is a fundamental part of the HR+ ERBB2− metastatic breast cancer (MBC) therapy paradigm. However medical researchers must continue efforts to identify patients with HR+ early breast cancer (EBC) and MBC most likely to benefit from CDK4/6 Inhibitors.

Efforts to investigate appropriate prescribing methods of CDK4/CDK6 inhibitors for HR+ early breast cancer (EBC) and MBC patients will be beneficial for cancer genomic medicine in Japan. Currently, in clinical trials, pharmaceutical companies are also examining the efficacy of combination therapy with multiple approved anti-tumor agents against various advanced and recurrent malignancies. It is clear that the results of these clinical trials and a new effort on selecting the appropriate prescription of CDK4/6 Inhibitors for breast cancer patients are important for the development of cancer genomic medicine.

We do not have potential conflicts of interest.

Report published in JAMA Oncology on July 09, 2023 by Kyoto@takumah

Doctor specializing in cancer care. and Doctor specializing in emerging infectious diseases.