Overview
Abemaciclib in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) is approved for adjuvant treatment and a recommended NCCN regimen for adult patients with HR+/HER2-, node-positive, early breast cancer (EBC) at high risk of recurrence. The monarchE trial established the efficacy of abemaciclib plus ET for EBC, with the highest rates of early discontinuations observed in the first few months. This retrospective study describes clinical characteristics and treatment persistence in patients with HR+/HER2-, node positive EBC initiating abemaciclib.
Using a cohort of 354 from the Flatiron Health EHR-derived database, this research observed an older, less fit, and more racially diverse population, as well as a higher proportion of patients with lower nodal status than those that participated in the monarchE.
Why this matters
This research suggests abemaciclib in combination with ET is tolerated in routine clinical practice. Using real-world data, researchers were able to learn from a more diverse and representative population than initially possible in clinical trials, improving our understanding of this treatment for EBC.