There are multiple CD4/CD6 inhibitors that are currently available for metastatic estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers. When you hear estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer that means it is one that needs estrogen to grow. CD4/CD6 drugs are meant to interrupt the growth of cancer cells by decreasing the amount of estrogen cancer cells can get. The different CD4/CD6 options, however, do come with different side effects. Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and an advisor to SurvivorNet, said while these drugs are generally really well-tolerated — it’s still important to have a conversation with your doctor about what the potential side effects are.
“They each have a slightly different side effect profile and it’s really important to talk to your doctor about what those side effects are, and what drug may be right for you,” Dr. Comen said.
One potential issue that can arise from this treatment method is your white blood cell count can become too low.
“That’s a common side effect from some of these medications,” Dr. Comen said. “It’s called neutropenia. You may know this term because you’ve already been treated with chemotherapy earlier on. It’s important to know that the neutropenia, or the lowering of the white blood cell count, that you may get with some of these CD4/CD6 inhibitors is quite different than what a woman might face if she’s undergoing chemotherapy. The risk of infection, which is what we really worry about when the white cell count drops, is not the same as it is with chemotherapy.”
This particular side effect can usually be dealt with by lowering the amount of medication you’re getting.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Elizabeth Comen serves as a medical advisor to SurvivorNet. She is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Read More
There are multiple CD4/CD6 inhibitors that are currently available for metastatic estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers. When you hear estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer that means it is one that needs estrogen to grow. CD4/CD6 drugs are meant to interrupt the growth of cancer cells by decreasing the amount of estrogen cancer cells can get. The different CD4/CD6 options, however, do come with different side effects. Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and an advisor to SurvivorNet, said while these drugs are generally really well-tolerated — it’s still important to have a conversation with your doctor about what the potential side effects are.
“They each have a slightly different side effect profile and it’s really important to talk to your doctor about what those side effects are, and what drug may be right for you,” Dr. Comen said.
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One potential issue that can arise from this treatment method is your white blood cell count can become too low.
“That’s a common side effect from some of these medications,” Dr. Comen said. “It’s called neutropenia. You may know this term because you’ve already been treated with chemotherapy earlier on. It’s important to know that the neutropenia, or the lowering of the white blood cell count, that you may get with some of these CD4/CD6 inhibitors is quite different than what a woman might face if she’s undergoing chemotherapy. The risk of infection, which is what we really worry about when the white cell count drops, is not the same as it is with chemotherapy.”
This particular side effect can usually be dealt with by lowering the amount of medication you’re getting.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Elizabeth Comen serves as a medical advisor to SurvivorNet. She is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Read More
