Breast Cancer Success Story: Verna (age 55)

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Updated August 2017

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Patient Presentation: Estrogen Positive Breast Cancer Survivor

When Verna was 55, she noticed multiple lumps in both breasts. She visited her doctor, who then arranged an ultrasound-based core needle biopsy. Shortly after, Verna was told she had breast cancer: Grade 1, invasive, and estrogen positive.

Based on the results of her ultrasound, the core needle biopsy, and her history of lumps in both of her breasts, Verna felt it would be important for her to have a double mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy testing.

However, her local oncologist had not provided Verna with a PET/CT as part of his initial diagnostic protocol. Verna had asked her oncologist whether a PET/CT would be helpful. She says he responded by saying that a PET/CT would not be helpful in her diagnosis and treatment because they (Verna’s treatment team) already had all the necessary information.

Verna’s instinct told her this didn’t feel right. So, just to be sure, Verna contacted CTOAM to get a second opinion before making such a life-changing decision.

Breast Cancer Survivor Success Story

Cancer Care Research and Advocacy Specialist

How CTOAM Helped Verna

1. Interim Support and Personalized Research

We reviewed Verna’s medical records and any prescribed treatment protocols (both present and past). Then our cancer research and patient advocacy experts reviewed the most current, relevant medical journals and research studies.

We also encouraged Verna to make two immediate changes to her lifestyle. Based on her current diet and work routine, there were important changes Verna could make before her formal treatment had even started: improve her exercise and nutrition.

Verna’s job required many hours of sitting at a desk, which meant her circulation wasn’t very good. Her diet was also poor, and she was starting to suffer from the effects of type II diabetes.

So we designed a cancer-fighting diet for Verna, as well as an exercise plan: certain types of exercise are exceptionally helpful in slowing the growth of breast cancer. Verna also invested in a new desk that would allow her to either stand or sit while she works.

We also arranged for Verna to work with an independent community oncologist near her hometown. This particular oncologist supports precision oncology and shares CTOAM’s philosophy of integrating private medicine into government-funded care for optimal cancer care.

2. Introduced Advanced Diagnostics

Genetic testing helps us identify any mutations for which medical science has already developed a targeted therapy drug.

Before she spoke with CTOAM, Verna hadn’t been aware of targeted therapy drugs for cancer. Our cancer specialists informed her about the benefits of targeted therapies, including evidence showing increased life expectancy and reduced side effects compared to standard treatment.

In order to gain access to the targeted therapies that would benefit her the most, Verna needed genetic testing. This is because we needed to first prove that she carried the genetic mutation for which a specific drug was designed. If we could demonstrate this, we’d be able to get her access to the drug.

CTOAM provides cancer patients like Verna with the necessary evidence (through genetic testing and subsequent analysis) to be eligible for the targeted treatment(s) that will be most effective for their unique form of cancer.

So, as we searched for new tests or treatments that might be helpful to Verna, our researchers also facilitated genetic testing of her tumour tissue to get even more data.

Additionally, CTOAM encouraged Verna to have a PET/CT scan (Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography) to determine the exact location and aggression level of her cancer.

• Read more about PET/CT scans
• See a PET/CT vs CT comparison

CTOAM’s care team arranged for Verna to get a private PET/CT scan at a local clinic. Within a week, her test results were back and we had a much better understanding of where the cancer was in her body and to what extent it had metastasized.

Verna’s PET/CT scan results were extremely positive: the scan revealed only one, single primary breast lesion with a minimal SUV max = 1.5. There was no evidence of axillary or distal FDG avid lymphadenopathy.

Simply put: Verna had only a single, very small, low grade cancer that could easily be removed with minimally invasive surgery.

Therefore, she did not need the double mastectomy that she’d been planning to have. This is because the PET/CT showed that the remainder of the lumps in her breasts were harmless, benign cysts. Without the data from the PET/CT, Verna would’ve had both breasts removed unnecessarily.

3. Interim Treatment Support and Monitoring

Verna had her tumour surgically removed and her sentinel lymph nodes were examined for disease.

• What are sentinel lymph nodes?
  Sentinel lymph nodes are the first few lymph nodes that the tumour drains into. They are considered a diagnostic approach in determining if the tumour has spread beyond the primary site via the lymphatic system.

Verna’s sentinel lymph node biopsy results indicated that she may also have a case of small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). This is an indolent form of lymphoma that might never progress or progress very slowly.

Further testing of her bone marrow showed “a light sprinkling of mature lymphocytes with no aggressive looking cancer cells.” Therefore, there was no need to treat her lymphoma at that time.

Genetic Testing for Cancer Treatment

Interpreting Verna’s Tumour Sequencing Results

The results from Verna’s tumour DNA sequencing results showed that she had a PI3Kα – H1047R mutation.

• What is a PI3Kα – H1047R mutation?
  
  This mutation causes a change in the amino acids at the 1047th codon of the gene from a histidine to an arginine. This is a common mutation in ER positive breast cancers and causes over-activation of the PI3K-alpha signalling pathway.
  
  Studies have suggested that, as a single driving mutation, this mutation is associated with a positive prognosis in breast cancer patients.
  
  Importantly, this mutation can sensitize breast tumours to targeted therapies including mTOR inhibitors such as everolimus, when combined with endocrine therapy. This is because endocrine therapy is known to activate the PI3K pathway.

After her surgery, Verna was given the option (by her standard oncologist) of adjuvant radiation therapy. This type of therapy has been shown to improve the overall outcome in certain cases.

However, Verna was very opposed to radiation therapy. And, given the dual diagnosis of breast cancer and lymphoma, CTOAM thought it best to first do further research on Verna’s genetics and treatment options. We wanted to ensure that adjuvant radiation therapy would be the best decision for Verna.

• Read more about tumour DNA sequencing

How CTOAM Determined Verna’s Best Cancer Treatment Options

1. Researched the benefits of post-surgery radiation therapy
   
   First, we researched the benefits of radiation therapy given her tumour grade. We found that the benefits of post-surgical radiation in lymph-node negative patients were specific to the surgical procedure the patients had endured.
   
   One significant finding showed that, in lymph node-negative patients, the survival advantage with radiation therapy is only observed in women who had breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Whereas the risk of death for post-surgical radiation therapy after a mastectomy is increased.
   
   This meant there could be some benefit to post-surgical radiation therapy for Verna (while for others it could be just the opposite).
2. Performed a liquid ctDNA blood-based biopsy test
   
   Secondly, given that Verna’s breast cancer cells were the only cells in her body that had this mutation, measuring the amount of this mutation in her blood using a new technique called liquid biopsy would give us an idea of the amount of cancer cells in her body.
   
   So, in order to ensure that Verna was completely cancer free post-surgery, and that there was no immediate cause for concern, we performed a blood-based liquid biopsy to detect the amount of her specific PI3K mutation.

• Read more about liquid biopsies

Best Breast Cancer Treatment for Verna

Great news! The results of the ctDNA test came back negative, indicating that Verna had no detectable levels of cancer cells in her body.

Given these results, we concluded that standard external beam radiation therapy should be avoided due to cardiotoxicity. And that other radiation-based therapies should be considered, such as brachytherapy and image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT).

However, if Verna were to receive external beam radiation therapy first, she would not be a candidate for further radiation therapy protocols, such as brachytherapy.

Ultimately, Vera decided not to get post-surgery radiation therapy.

5. Clinical Trial Research and Advocacy

Recent advances in lymphoma treatment that target the PI3K-delta signalling pathway, rather than the alpha pathway altered in breast cancers, have resulted in significant benefits to patients without the harsh side effects of standard chemotherapy.

Since there are four unique PI3K signalling pathways (alpha, beta, delta, and gamma), we reviewed a series of pan-PI3K inhibitors (drugs that inhibit all PI3K pathways at the same time), and identified three drugs (GDC-0032, Copanlisib and AMG-511) that specifically inhibited only the PI3K signalling pathways (alpha and delta) that were driving the development of both her breast cancer and lymphoma.

In this way, Verna could potentially treat both of her cancers at the same time, using a single drug should she need to have treatment in the future.

6. Patient Outcome

Verna is currently still cancer free over four years, after working with us!

To ensure she remains cancer free, Verna gets regular (low-dose) PET/CT scans.

Because of her genetic test results, we know which mutations to look out for. So with just a simple blood test, Verna can see if her old cancer has returned. With a liquid biopsy, Verna will know if her cancer is back before it has time to become too advanced. And, based on her genetic testing data, CTOAM has a list of targeted treatment options for Verna ready to go should that ever happen.

Conclusions

CTOAM was instrumental in preventing Verna from getting a double mastectomy. The PET/CT we recommended for her proved that the double mastectomy she’d been planning to get (prior to consulting us) was unnecessary.

We also helped Verna to determine that she didn’t need chemotherapy. And CTOAM now has a list of treatment options waiting for her, should she ever need it in future.

When it comes to both cancer treatment and prevention of recurrence, diet and exercise are fundamental. Because Verna adopted an active lifestyle and healthy diet, she has reaped the benefits of these changes. Unsurprisingly, her pre-diabetic condition has also been reversed.

Best Cancer Treatment Options

As you can see, CTOAM’s advanced diagnostics, records review, and consultations can result in significant benefits to a patient’s outcome. Having access to a team of precision oncology specialists, doctors, and patient advocates can make all the difference in the outcome of your disease.

If you or a loved one has cancer, contact us today so we can do a brief review of your medical records. CTOAM’s cancer experts will ensure that you have access to the most advanced tests and treatments available for your unique form of cancer – as close to home as possible

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