How IBRANCE (palbociclib) Works To Treat HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer
The First Treatment Of Its Kind
Which Type Of Breast Cancer Is IBRANCE Used For?
IBRANCE is used to treat hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC)—breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body—or HR+/HER2- mBC.
Hormone receptor-positive includes both estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and/or progesterone receptor-positive (PR+) subtypes. If your subtype is ER+ and/or PR+, you’re more likely to respond to hormone therapies, like an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant, that reduce the effects of hormones.
If your subtype is HER2-, your cancer cells have less HER2 protein expression and, therefore, are less likely to respond to anti-HER2 therapies.
HR+/HER2- is the most common subtype of metastatic breast cancer, representing approximately 70% of all cases.
IBRANCE combination therapy was studied in 2 different clinical trials. Whether you’ve previously received hormonal therapy for your HR+/HER2- metastatic disease before or not, talk to your healthcare team to learn if IBRANCE is right for you.
Learn How IBRANCE & Hormonal Therapies Work Together
The video below shows how IBRANCE and hormonal therapies bring the power of two therapies together to help delay the progression of HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
https://players.brightcove.net/1852113022001/JpBcT6sXX_default/index.html?videoId=6389664230112
Starting a new treatment can be overwhelming. You—and those who care for you—may have questions, and that’s to be expected. This video can help explain how IBRANCE® (palbociclib) works as a treatment for a certain type of metastatic breast cancer.
Metastatic breast cancer, or mBC, is breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, and brain.
Let’s now take a closer look at the role hormones play in the body as well as how both IBRANCE and hormonal therapy work.
Hormones are substances that act as chemical messengers, traveling through the bloodstream to help perform activities specific to cells and organs.
Estrogen and progesterone are two such hormones that occur naturally in the body. These hormones attach to hormone receptors in order to help promote normal cell growth and function.
Hormone receptors are proteins found within and on the surface of cells, including breast cells. The binding of hormones to the receptors is like flipping an on switch for the activity and function of the cell.
The binding of hormones like estrogen and/or progesterone to their hormone receptors in cells triggers cell growth by communicating with proteins known as CDK4 and CDK6. These proteins play an important role in cell division.
The breast cancer we are focused on here is known as hormone receptor positive or (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative or (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer. Or, more simply put, HR+/HER2- mBC.
In HR+/HER2- mBC, the increase of certain proteins, like CDK4 and CDK6, can contribute to the cell being overactive. That overactivity can cause the cell to lose its ability to regulate its growth and division.
This can lead to the production of many cancerous cells that can move to different areas of the body. Blocking the ways in which a cell grows and divides can slow the progression of certain breast cancers, including HR+/HER2- mBC.
This is where IBRANCE can play a role.
IBRANCE is taken in combination with hormonal therapy to help delay the progression of metastatic breast cancer.
IBRANCE works inside the cell to disrupt the activity of the proteins CDK4 and CDK6, which can keep both healthy and cancer cells from dividing.
Hormonal therapy works to block or reduce the binding of hormones with hormone receptors to prevent the cells from growing and dividing.
By working together, IBRANCE and hormonal therapy can help delay the progression of HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
Talk to your doctor if you have any additional questions about IBRANCE. Information can also be found throughout IBRANCE.com.
For more information about how to take IBRANCE in combination with other therapies, see How To Take IBRANCE.
Brochures To Download
Patient Guide
Download our Patient Guide for an overview of IBRANCE.
Caregiver Guide
Download our Caregiver Guide for information specific for caregivers.
IBRANCE FAQs
IBRANCE (palbociclib) 125 mg capsules and tablets are a prescription medicine used in adults to treat hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) in combination with:
- an aromatase inhibitor as the first hormonal based therapy, or
- fulvestrant in people with disease progression following hormonal therapy.
It is not known if IBRANCE is safe and effective in children.
Talk to your healthcare team to see if IBRANCE is right for you.
IBRANCE may cause serious side effects, including:
Low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Low white blood cell counts are very common when taking IBRANCE and may cause serious infections that can lead to death. Your doctor should check your white blood cell counts before and during treatment.
If you develop low white blood cell counts during treatment with IBRANCE, your doctor may stop your treatment, decrease your dose, or may tell you to wait to begin your treatment cycle. Tell your doctor right away if you have signs and symptoms of low white blood cell counts or infections, such as fever and chills.
Lung problems (pneumonitis). IBRANCE may cause severe inflammation of the lungs during treatment that can lead to death. Tell your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms, including:
- chest pain
- cough with or without mucus
- trouble breathing or shortness of breath
Your healthcare provider may interrupt or stop treatment with IBRANCE completely if your symptoms are severe.
For more information, see side effects.
Before taking IBRANCE, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have fever, chills, or any other signs or symptoms of infection.
- have liver or kidney problems.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant; IBRANCE can harm your unborn baby.
- Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose of IBRANCE. Your doctor may ask you to take a pregnancy test before you start treatment with IBRANCE.
- Males with female partners who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with IBRANCE for at least 3 months after the last dose of IBRANCE.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if IBRANCE passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with IBRANCE and for 3 weeks after the last dose.
Yes. To monitor side effects, your healthcare team will perform a blood test to check your complete blood count before starting IBRANCE® (palbociclib) and at the beginning of each cycle (month).
For the first 2 cycles, you’ll need a complete blood cell count on Day 15 as well. Make sure to tell your healthcare team which day you start your first and second cycles, so they can schedule your Day 15 appointment at the right time.
A complete blood cell count is the only scheduled monitoring requirement for IBRANCE. Patients taking IBRANCE do not require EKG heart monitoring. Your healthcare team will also monitor you for lung problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have new or worsening symptoms, including chest pain, cough with or without mucus, trouble breathing or shortness of breath.
If your blood test results indicate low white blood cell counts (neutropenia), your healthcare team may temporarily hold or adjust your dose. It’s not uncommon to have doses modified throughout treatment. Be sure to follow your dosing schedule exactly as your healthcare team prescribes and talk to your doctor if you have any questions about monitoring.
IBRANCE may cause serious side effects, including:
Low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Low white blood cell counts are very common when taking IBRANCE and may cause serious infections that can lead to death. Your healthcare provider should check your white blood cell counts before and during treatment.
If you develop low white blood cell counts during treatment with IBRANCE, your healthcare provider may stop your treatment, decrease your dose, or may tell you to wait to begin your treatment cycle. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have signs and symptoms of low white blood cell counts or infections such as fever and chills.
Lung problems (pneumonitis). IBRANCE may cause severe inflammation of the lungs during treatment that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms, including:
- chest pain
- cough with or without mucus
- trouble breathing or shortness of breath
Your healthcare provider may interrupt or stop treatment with IBRANCE completely if your symptoms are severe.
The most common side effects of IBRANCE include:
- Low red blood cell counts and low platelet counts. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of these symptoms during treatment:
- dizziness
- shortness of breath
- weakness
- bleeding or bruising more easily
- nosebleeds
- infections
- tiredness
- nausea
- sore mouth
- abnormalities in liver blood tests
- diarrhea
- hair thinning or hair loss
- increased blood creatinine
IBRANCE may cause fertility problems in males. This may affect your ability to father a child. Talk to your healthcare provider about family planning options before starting IBRANCE if this is a concern for you.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all of the possible side effects of IBRANCE. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see additional Important Safety Information here.
Yes, we’ll help you find financial assistance options for your prescribed IBRANCE, including the Pfizer Oncology Together Co-Pay Savings Program for eligible, commercially insured patients. Limits, terms, and conditions apply. Pfizer Oncology Together can also help identify resources if you have Medicare, another government insurance plan, or don’t have health insurance.
For eligible, commercially insured patients, sign up now for co-pay assistance. Limits, terms, and conditions apply.
Whether it’s financial assistance or personalized support, Pfizer Oncology Together will help you find the resources you need—all in one place. Just give us a call at 1-844-9-IBRANCE.
