I had been looking for this article since a friend was denied Ibrance after being successfully treated on it for 6 years. Finally found it. You may find it interesting. Here is a link: app.screencast.com/Q39HD7p4...
Make sure to read the results at the end.
Was your friend approved after the article was presented?
No. They switched her to Kisqali. They said the Paloma 3 study showed that after six years there was only a four-month advantage compared to no treatment. (I think that's what they told her).
I'm glad your friend was switched to ribociclib (Kisqali) as research indicates this is much more likely to be effective than continued palbociclib (Ibrance).
Thank you for posting this reference! It is an excellent article supporting the long term use (6+) years of palbociclib (with fulvestrant injections)for some patients. I presume many of the patients who benefitted were elderly...
Note that 75% died before reaching six years. There is no info on what happened to the survivors after six years. I don't know where they got the 4 month advantage. On the other hand, other studies show more of an advantage from Kisqali than from Ibrance. The ones who benefited most had no prior chemo. There must be a longer write up somewhere, including demographics.
I found it a bit discouraging. I thought they had moved beyond median survival of 5 years, but if it has just gone up to six, that is not a huge amount of progress.
Tammy, I appreciate your comment. Somehow I missed that 75% had died before reaching six years. I heard that Dana Farber was going to study the subgroup that made it six years to see if they could figure out what led to their longevity. Kisqali does have some interesting results, but there is more of a risk of cardiac complications vs Ibrance. I was told I'd have to have cardiac clearance to be on that drug. I will not be able to qualify as I have suffered from heart failure and had to have an aortic valve replacement a year ago.
Hello,
I am interested in your comment that you "will not be able to qualify" for Kisqali because you had an aortic valve replacement. I had my aortic valve replaced in 2018, and have been taking 600 mg Kisqali since 2022. I live in Saskatchewan which has universal health coverage. Physicians here may be more tolerant of patients who make their own treatment decisions.
I think it is because I have several other heart issues. I was hospitalized following radiation for blood clots and heart failure. My cardiologist told me he would not recommend that I switch due to my extensive heart history.
May I ask why was your friend denied Ibrance?
Did they not think she would get any more benefit from it?
Yes, they felt the data showed very little benefit (if any) after six years.
23 months on Ibrance now am taking 1 month off
To be on Ibrance or not?
3 months check for my spine cancer today! And Ibrance 75mg
Scan results after 11 months of Fulvestrant and Ibrance-75
Going for my first CT since being on iBrance for 3 months
