Ipatasertib in addition to paclitaxel for locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

Ipatasertib in addition to paclitaxel is in clinical development for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN-altered tumour. This type of breast cancer is caused by a combination of genetic abnormalities and loss of some genes in the body. TNBC is an uncommon type of breast cancer whose cells do not have receptors for the hormones oestrogen and progesterone or HER2 protein. This means that many cancer treatments do not work for people with TNBC. Patients with TNBC have worse clinical outcomes and a unique pattern of recurrence compared with the other major subtypes of breast cancer. Patients with TNBC have been shown to have the highest rate of recurrence within the first 5 years after diagnosis.
Ipatasertib is administered orally. It works by blocking the activity of a protein called serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT) which may prevent cancer cell growth and survival. The combination of ipatasertib and paclitaxel is also well tolerated and demonstrated a better objective response rate in TNBC. If licensed, ipatasertib in addition to paclitaxel may offer an additional treatment option for locally advanced or metastatic TNBC with PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN-altered tumours with no prior chemotherapy in the advanced setting.