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Only about one-third of eligible patients at a university medical center received adjuvant abemaciclib (Verzenio) for early-stage, high-risk, ER+ breast cancer, although prescribing rates for the agent overall seem to be on the rise, authors of a retrospective, real-world study reported in JCO Oncology Advances.
Julia Foldi, MD, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and colleagues analyzed data from 468 eligible patients treated there from 2021 to 2023. Of these, 162 (35%) received a prescription for adjuvant abemaciclib. Prescribing rates were higher in patients meeting FDA-approval indications (44% of the group) and lower in those meeting monarchE trial eligibility (20%). Prescribing increased from 28% in 2021 to 42% in 2022 (P=0.0097).
"Adjuvant abemaciclib prescribing was low despite its proven benefits," the team noted. "Further research is needed to address prescribing barriers and understand decision-making factors."
In an accompanying comment about the relevance of the study, Yanin Chavarri-Guerra, MD, MS, an associate editor of the journal, who is affiliated with Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Health Sciences and Nutrition in Mexico City, wrote that the study provides real-world evidence on the adoption, safety profile, and early outcomes of adjuvant abemaciclib in patients with high-risk ER+/HER2- early breast cancer following regulatory approval. "By identifying clinical factors associated with prescribing patterns, assessing toxicity management, and reporting recurrence outcomes, this analysis contributes to understanding how trial-based recommendations translate into clinical practice outside of controlled settings," she said.
