The first participant in Europe to take part in a new breast cancer trial has been recruited in Leeds.
The study supported by the NIHR Research Delivery Network, is testing a new drug called BNT327 (also known as PM8002) to see if it’s safe and works well for people with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
TNBC does not have the three common “receptors” found in most breast cancers, the oestrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors. Because of this, it has been more difficult to treat because it doesn’t respond to hormone therapies or drugs that target HER2, making it harder to treat. As a result, TNBC is more likely to come back and spread than other breast cancers and patient outcomes are less good.
BNT327 is a special kind of medicine called a “bi-specific antibody”. That means it’s designed to target two specific proteins in and around cancers including TNBC: PD-L1 and VEGF-A.
PD-L1 helps cancer hide from the immune system, and VEGF-A helps tumours grow by creating new blood vessels; BNT327 works by blocking both proteins. BNT327, given with chemotherapy, aims to helps the immune system find and attack the cancer, slows tumours growth by cutting off its blood supply, treating TNBC.
Professor Chris Twelves, University of Leeds, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Director NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility CRF) at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is conducting the study with the CRF team at St James’s University Hospital
Professor Chris Twelves, Director of the NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility and Trial Lead said : “There is a particular need for new treatments for people with TNBC so we are especially pleased to be able to offer them this innovative, novel another treatment through this trial” .
The study participant said: “I’m incredibly grateful to the wonderful team running the Leeds trial. Having an additional treatment option has given me renewed hope, and the close monitoring and support of the team have been very reassuring.