Combining Avastin, a breast cancer drug, with chemotherapy doubles the survival rate of women who have breast cancer. Scientists have discivered that Avastin keeps cancer under control for double the time period, with slight side effects.
This drug prevents the growth of new blood vessels needed for cancer to grow and spread further than the breast. The additional chemotherapy treatment deals with the tumour.
Doctors have found that when they combined the drug with chemotherapy treatment Taxol, the cancer stabilised for 11.4 months in women who received the drug combo compared to 6.11 months in patients who had only had Taxol.
1 in 9 women in Britain have breast cancer some time in their lives. There are 40,000 cases p.a. and about 11,000 deaths.
Avastin, which is also known as bevacizumab, has had positive results in a drug combination against colorectal cancer and to helping those with lung cancer.
Its manufacturer Roche is to apply for a licence in 2007 and it ought to be available in summer 2007.
