Breakthrough in Breast Cancer Treatment: New Research Showcases Effective and Safe Treatment Option

Strategic Insights -

A new study has shed light on a potential treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, a common side effect of cancer treatment. The research, conducted by a team of scientists at Juntendo University in Japan, investigated the efficacy and safety of adding olanzapine, an antiemetic medication, to the standard treatment regimen for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The study found that administering 5mg of olanzapine at home after chemotherapy, rather than before, can maintain its effectiveness in controlling nausea and vomiting while minimizing sedative side effects.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study, published in the Lancet Oncology journal, was a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial that involved 15 hospitals and cancer centers in Japan.
  • The research enrolled 1,002 female breast cancer patients who were scheduled to receive intravenous anthracycline-based chemotherapy.
  • The patients were randomly assigned to receive either oral olanzapine 5mg or a placebo via the central registration system.
  • The study found that adding olanzapine to the standard triplet antiemetic therapy was more effective in controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, but with sedative side effects.
  • The research concluded that administering 5mg of olanzapine at home after chemotherapy can maintain its effectiveness while minimizing sedative side effects.

Statistics:

  • The study enrolled 1,002 female breast cancer patients.
  • 502 patients received oral olanzapine 5mg, while 500 patients received a placebo.
  • The study found that 72.3% of patients who received olanzapine experienced complete response, compared to 53.6% of patients who received the placebo.
  • The most common side effects of olanzapine were sedation, dizziness, and weight gain.
  • The study estimates that 70% of breast cancer patients experience nausea and vomiting after receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

Sources:

  • "Overall efficacy and safety of olanzapine 5 mg added to triplet antiemetics for an anthracycline-containing regimen in patients with breast cancer: a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial." Lancet Oncology, 2025.
  • Juntendo University, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Contact: Mitsue Saito, Dept. of Breast Oncology.