Breast cancer often returns years after treatment, and when it does, it is usually deadly. Now researchers at Penn may have found a way to stop that from happening. In a new study, two widely available generic drugs — hydroxychloroquine and everolimus — were used together to wipe out dormant cancer cells in bone marrow that can later “wake up” and cause relapse.
The trial included 51 women who had dormant cancer cells detected in their bone marrow. After six cycles of treatment, 80% of patients cleared the cells. Three years later, nearly all remained cancer free. Women who received both drugs had a 100% survival rate with no recurrence, compared with the usual 30% relapse rate seen in breast cancer patients.
Experts say larger trials are still needed, but the results are a major step forward. Dormant cells are invisible to standard scans, making recurrence unpredictable and frightening for survivors. By detecting and removing these hidden cells early, doctors may finally be able to protect patients from one of the deadliest risks of breast cancer.
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