Novel Breast Cancer Therapies: PI3K Inhibitors

STATEMENT OF NEED

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women, with hormone receptor (HR)"positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)"negative breast cancer being the most common subtype, making up 73% of cases (ACS, 2019). In breast cancer, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) overactivation is often associated with an activating mutation in the catalytic alpha subunit of PI3K (PIK3CA). These activating mutations occur in more than one third of breast cancers (Verret et al, 2019). The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is strongly associated with cell proliferation, migration, and survival and is commonly activated in cancer. Alpelisib was the first PI3K inhibitor approved for breast cancer in 2019, in combination with fulvestrant for patients with metastatic HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer and a PIK3CA activation mutation (Andre et al, 2019). In this session, Janie Metsker, RN, BSN, CN-BN will explore the role of PI3K inhibitors for patients with breast cancer, including the advantages of isoform-specific inhibition of PI3K with alpelisib. She will explain how PI3K inhibition is thought to help overcome resistance to hormonal therapy for breast cancer and will review the safety concerns associated with PI3K agents.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Oncology nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, oncologists, and other health care professionals involved in the treatment of patients with breast cancer.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to
Assess the indications and safety and efficacy profiles of novel PI3K inhibitors for breast cancer
Evaluate clinical tools for assessing and grading adverse events associated with novel PI3K inhibitors
Apply strategies to optimize the safety and tolerability of novel PI3K inhibitors
Develop educational strategies to help patients understand the benefits and risks of their breast cancer treatment plan