By Clinical Research News Staff 

October 17, 2024 | A groundbreaking new approach for treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is moving forward, thanks to discoveries from Dr. Donald McDonnell’s lab at Duke University. Traditionally, hormone therapies have only been considered effective for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) cancers, but McDonnell’s research suggests that estrogen modulation could also impact TNBC. The team’s recent study, published in Science Advances, challenges the conventional understanding of TNBC by demonstrating that estrogen can stimulate the growth of cancers traditionally thought to be hormone-insensitive, including TNBC, by affecting immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. 

The research focuses on the role of estrogen in regulating immune cells, such as T-cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts, within tumors. McDonnell’s team made a critical finding: reducing estrogen levels increased the number of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell associated with improved outcomes in cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. This led to a clinical trial proposal involving the selective estrogen receptor modulator lasofoxifene, a drug originally developed for osteoporosis, which showed promise in enhancing the immune response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICBs). The trial will involve up to 50 TNBC patients who will receive lasofoxifene before starting standard therapies, with biopsies and blood work used to monitor immune response markers, including eosinophils. 

In addition to TNBC, this estrogen-blocking strategy could have broader implications for treating other cancers, including melanoma and colon, lung, head, and neck cancers. If successful, the approach could enhance the efficacy of existing immunotherapies and potentially reduce the need for chemotherapy, which is known for its toxicity. 

The trial, currently in development, could transform the treatment landscape for TNBC and other hard-to-treat cancers. For more detailed insights into the research and its clinical implications, visit Bio-IT World to access the full article.