The rise of personalized medicine and drug repurposing in breast cancer: a real world evidence study in Norway

Participant: Kathrine F. Vandraas

The prognosis for breast cancer patients has significantly improved in recent decades. However, there is still considerable variation in survival rates depending on the stage and type of breast cancer. New targeted treatments offer hope for improved survival among patients who have traditionally had poor outcomes, such as those with metastatic or aggressive breast cancer. 

The aim of the project is to provide, for the first time, a comprehensive overview of the use of modern breast cancer treatments across Norway. The treated patients will be described in relation to clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic variables. We will furthermore assess the survival of patients treated with newer cancer drugs, as well as other health outcomes such as hospitalizations, concurrent medication use, and comorbidities. 

In a secondary subproject we will evaluate whether using beta-blockers, statins or metformin in combination with standard cancer treatment may improve survival, for instance by increasing the effectiveness of the cancer treatment, as indicated in preclinical studies. 

The project is based on a large linkage of several high-quality national registries, including the Cancer Registry of Norway, the Norwegian Prescribed Drug Registry, and the Norwegian Patient Registry. The project is funded by the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.

Internal collaborators: at the Cancer Registry of Norway/NIPH: PI Nathalie Støer, Sarah Hjort, Cassie Trewin, Giske Ursin, Bettina Kulle Andreassen, Edoardo Botteri, Øystein Karlstad

External collaborators: at Oslo University hospital: Bjørn Naume, Kristin Reinertsen, Helse Vest: Bjørnar Gilje, Helse Midt: Sunil Raj, Helse Nord: Egil Blix. At London School of Hygiene and tropical medicine: Ruth Keogh, ved Monash University Australia: Erika Sloan.