What have they found?

Patients with inherited forms of advanced breast, ovarian and prostate cancers – caused by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes – were treated with the new drug olaparib (a PARP inhibitor). Tumours in more than half of the patients shrank or stabilised. One of the first patients treated is still in remission after two years.

Why is this important?

Olaparib targets the cancer cells but leaves healthy cells relatively unscathed. Importantly, patients experienced few side-effects and some reported it was ‘much easier than  chemotherapy’. Olaparib is the first successful example of a new type of personalised medicine using ‘synthetic lethality’, where the treatment works in tandem with a patient’s own specific molecular defect.

PR strategy

The ICR sent out a press release to national and trade press. ICR science press officer Jane  Bunce led the inhouse team and handled media calls. The press office also prepared  information for patients on the trial. Virgo Health also supported the AstraZeneca in house press team on the story.

Media coverage

The story was covered on BBC Breakfast, Sky News and ITN, as well as on NBC in the US. The Daily Mail, The Independent and FT also ran the story. The BBC Health website’s headline said the new drug ‘shows promise’.

STATS

85% - the risk of women with a BRCA gene mutation developing breast cance.