The Scottish Medicines Consortium has accepted Takeda’s PROSTAP 3 DCS (leuprorelin acetate) treatment for use in patients with early and advanced breast cancer, which is the most common cancer in women globally.
PROSTAP, which is a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, works with tamoxifen against breast cancer cells that have oestrogen receptors, to lower the levels of oestrogen in the body and stop the cancer cells from growing.
In patients with early breast cancer, the combination of a GnRH agonist with tamoxifen after the initial treatment has been shown to significantly improve the chances of recurrence-free and overall survival. It has also been proven to prolong progression-free survival in advanced breast cancer patients.
The medicine, which works by suppressing the release of luteinising hormone and follicle stimulating hormone, is recommended for those at a higher risk of disease recurrence.
The treatment differs from other GnRH agonists as it only requires four doses per year for early-stage breast cancer patients, as opposed to as many as 13 per year for similar medicines.
Dr Roger Henderson, a GP in Dumfries and Galloway, said: “I find that being able to use PROSTAP 3 DCS in women with early breast cancer helps to reduce both the number of times a woman with early breast cancer needs to visit the hospital and the stress associated with these, while maintaining efficacy of treatment.”
PROSTAP 3 DCS by Takeda is currently available for use in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for breast cancer. The drug is also used to treat prostate cancer and endometriosis across the whole of the UK.
Jack Goddard
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