Results of INFORM Study Released at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, today welcomed the results of the INFORM trial that were announced at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The Komen-funded INFORM trial led by Dr. Nadine Tung shows that HER2-negative patients with a BRCA1/2 gene mutation have multiple effective treatment options.
Dr. Tung and colleagues sought to determine if cisplatin chemotherapy is a more effective treatment than the current, standard of care treatment, chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (commonly referred to as “AC”). Prior retrospective studies, which looked at treatment that has already occurred as part of the study, had indicated that cisplatin chemotherapy might work better than AC. The INFORM clinical trial was the first prospective study, or a study that evaluates treatment moving forward, to actually test this idea.
“For HER2 negative breast cancer patients with BRCA1/2 mutations, the INFORM trial confirmed that cisplatin chemotherapy is not more effective than standard chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. The results suggest that BRCA carriers may respond to both types of chemotherapy – which kill cancer cells by damaging DNA – giving them multiple options to treat their cancer,” said Dr. Tung. Prospective studies are essential for improving clinical practice.
She added, “Funding from Susan G. Komen was essential for this work.” Funded in part by a Komen Opportunity Grant, the INFORM trial is also part of the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium (TBCRC), which has been supported by Komen for more than 10 years.
Victoria Wolodzko, senior vice president of Mission at Susan G. Komen, added, “Patients with BRCA mutations face many challenges, especially those in rural or underserved areas. This work confirms that physicians have more options for these patients. Patients won’t need to wait for a specific treatment to ensure they are getting the best care no matter where they live.”
