Rapidly expanding breast cancer treatments
Treating breast cancer is one of the most significant challenges facing the health care system. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, and breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 13% of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lifetime.
But there is hope for those facing a breast cancer diagnosis. The breast cancer therapeutics market is growing rapidly, offering a wide range of treatment approaches, including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. In fact, the global market size for breast cancer drugs is anticipated to more than double, from $32.93 billion in 2023 to a projected $78.61 billion in 2033, according to a report from Nova One Advisor.
New treatments are being tailored to different subtypes and stages of breast cancer, fueled by advances in understanding the molecular basis of the disease. These treatments play a key role in pre- and post-surgery care and aim to improve survival rates, minimize side effects and enhance quality of life for patients.
For example, significant research efforts are targeting breast cancers characterized by the overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). HER2-positive breast cancers, which make up 15%–20% of cases, tend to be more aggressive, requiring targeted interventions. HER2-targeted drugs attack specific proteins on cancer cells to slow tumor growth.
Still, more and better treatment options are needed. Research in breast cancer treatment continues to evolve, and management of breast cancer is becoming increasingly personalized with the use of immunotherapy and targeted agents.
Other areas of breast cancer research include the following:
- Adjuvant radiation therapy: Determining the populations with early-stage, low-risk breast cancer for whom radiation therapy can be safely omitted.
- Proton beam radiation: Testing whether alternative radiation therapies, such as proton beam radiation, might be more effective than standard radiation.
- Tailored treatment of early stage breast cancer: Looking at specific characteristics of a person’s cancer to identify the best treatment approach and prevent either over- or under-treatment to achieve the best outcomes.
- Targeted therapy: Personalizing treatment to an individual’s particular cancer based on special molecular tests done on the tumor itself.
- Drug combinations: Exploring combinations of drugs—such as pairing two targeted therapies, integrating immunotherapy with targeted therapy or chemotherapy, or combining hormone therapy with targeted treatments—to determine if they work better together.
- Cancer vaccines: Testing whether cancer vaccines can help keep the cancer from either worsening or coming back after treatment—or possibly preventing it in the first place.
- There are many ways cancer vaccines work. For example, protein vaccines stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack specific cancer proteins.
- DNA vaccines contain DNA instructions so that once the vaccine is given, the DNA will instruct the body to make proteins to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
- Antibody-drug conjugates: Expanding the use of antibody-drug conjugates, which combine monoclonal antibodies with chemotherapy drugs to precisely target cancer cells while reducing harm to healthy tissues.
- Treatment of hereditary breast cancer: Discovering new ways to treat women with hereditary breast cancer, since they have a higher chance of the cancer recurring.
- Countering of cancer resistance: Finding new treatment options when breast cancer becomes resistant to current treatments.
Connecting members to the most-effective treatments
While these research areas show great promise, they can only help health plan members if they are connected to the most appropriate new treatment options. Dr. Peter WT Pisters, president of MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the most prestigious cancer centers in the world, says about one in five cancer patients may be getting the wrong treatment.
That’s far too many people not receiving the most effective care.
Part of the challenge is that research is changing so rapidly. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a nonprofit alliance of 33 leading cancer centers—and the gold standard in patient care, research and education—updated its clinical guidelines more than 200 times8 in the past year alone, including several changes regarding breast cancer.
In such a dynamic environment, it’s critical to have tools that assist practicing physicians in effectively using the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines. The EviCore by Evernorth® medical oncology solution utilizes a highly advanced and dynamic clinical decision-support (CDS) tool that helps providers quickly identify the most appropriate treatment options based on each patient’s unique clinical situation and the most up-to-date evidence.
Ensuring patients get the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatments improves their chances of better health outcomes. By staying at the forefront of rapidly changing breast cancer research and connecting patients to the latest, most appropriate treatment options, health plans are uniquely positioned to help members have the best chance at getting better.
