DALLAS, Texas – A breast cancer research study now open at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas is believed to be the first of its kind to explore the ability of new weight loss GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists to combat breast cancer recurrence in overweight or obese patients.
The TRIM-EBC* clinical trial, funded by philanthropy and supported by Eli Lilly and Haystack Oncology, conducted through the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, is studying whether weight loss from Zepbound® (tirzepatide) can lower the risk of breast cancer recurrence by reducing or clearing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA).
The study's co-principal investigators are Joyce Ann O'Shaughnessy, MD, medical oncologist and the Celebrating Women Chair in Breast Cancer Research at Baylor Scott & White Health; and Ronan Kelly, MD, MBA, FASCO, director of oncology, Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, and chief of oncology, North Texas Division, Baylor Scott & White Health.
"Knowledge like this could potentially advance treatment for the thousands of patients with breast cancer that Baylor Scott & White treats in Texas each year," said Dr. O'Shaughnessy. "On a much larger scale, this could benefit the tens of thousands of people who are overweight or obese and are diagnosed with high-risk breast cancer annually throughout the U.S."
Patients with ctDNA positivity will be treated with tirzepatide for 24 months at Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center – Dallas.
Research has shown that people living with early-stage breast cancer who test positive for ctDNA in their blood are at a higher risk for breast cancer recurrence. People who are obese or overweight are also at an increased risk for breast cancer recurrence.
Studies show that multiple pathways link obesity to breast cancer and that weight gain after diagnosis increases breast cancer deaths. In a 2020 study1, nearly two-thirds of the women reported an average weight gain of about 20 pounds after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Overall, 17% of the women reported gaining more than 44 pounds.
Chronic inflammation could be one explanation for why obesity is linked to cancer. As fat cells grow and multiply, the increased inflammation causes those cells in organ systems to malfunction. Another explanation could be the increased amount of estrogen, insulin, and other cancer growth factors from adipose tissue. The strongest evidence that weight loss could reduce cancer risk comes from bariatric surgery studies. A 2019 study2 showed that sustained weight loss is linked to lower breast cancer risk.
Zepbound is a prescription injectable drug that contains tirzepatide, a GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist that may help adults with obesity lose weight and maintain weight loss. GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic the body's natural GIP and GLP-1 hormones, which are produced after eating. However, current guidelines still recommend achieving a healthy weight through diet and physical activity as the main way to decrease the risk of breast cancer recurrence.
"Preventing cancer recurrence is integral to Baylor Scott & White's contribution to the National Cancer Plan that aims to significantly reduce cancer mortality, and this study forms part of our burgeoning portfolio of innovative trials that are being launched through the Texas Cancer Interception Institute," said Dr. Kelly.
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*TRIM-EBC: TiRzepatide weIght loss in patients with MRD and Early Breast Cancer
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About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform — MyBSWHealth. Through 52 hospitals and more than 1,300 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com