BDO@ASCO June 1, 2024: Black Lung Cancer and Breast Cancer Research

BDO is currently covering the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Meeting in Chicago, IL from June 1-June 3, 2024. Be sure to follow along with each of our articles titled “BDO@ASCO.” Gene study suggests black women may not need different breast cancer drug dose A new study shared at ASCO has investigated how Ribociclib (Ribo), a medication used to treat hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer, is processed by the body in Black women. This research is important because Ribo’s breakdown is influenced by an enzyme called CYP3A, and people of different ancestries have variations in their CYP3A genes that affect how this enzyme works. Traditionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends lowering the Ribo dose if it’s taken with medications that affect CYP3A activity. The concern is that some individuals might have a buildup of Ribo in their system if their bodies can’t break it down quickly enough. This could lead to increased side effects. One specific gene, CYP3A5, has several versions that influence how well the CYP3A enzyme functions. Most whites have a version that makes them poor metabolizers (PM) of Ribo, meaning it breaks down slowly. In contrast, most Blacks have versions that make them normal...