Weight Loss Responses to Pharmacotherapy in Breast Cancer Survivors: Results from the Adaptive Nutrition and Exercise Weight Loss (A-NEW) Study.
Jennifer Y Sheng, Marianna L Zahurak, Faith Too et al.
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In 30 seconds
This single-arm phase II study evaluated behavioral weight loss (BWL), with Contrave added for women with prior stage 0 to III breast cancer who lost less than 5% of their weight after two months. Among 38 participants receiving BWL plus Contrave, 16 (42%) achieved at least 5% weight loss by six months; mean weight loss in this group was 5.1% (SD 2.9). Participants who initially lost at least 5% continued BWL alone, so the study does not provide a randomised comparison of adding Contrave.
Key findings
- At two months, 15 of 53 participants (28.3%) had lost at least 5% of their weight; 38 (71.7%) had lost less than 5%.
- At six months, 16 of 38 participants receiving BWL plus Contrave (42%) achieved at least 5% weight loss, compared with 13 of 15 (86.7%) who continued BWL alone after early weight loss.
- In the slower-response group, HbA1c and triglycerides improved (P = 0.003 and P = 0.04); physical function and pain improved among participants achieving at least 5% weight loss.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms were reported by 74% of the Contrave group; one of six withdrawals while taking Contrave was attributed to adverse events.
Why it matters
Weight loss after breast cancer may be difficult to achieve with behavioral support alone. These findings suggest that adding pharmacotherapy for participants with limited early response can be followed by clinically meaningful weight loss and improvements in selected cardiometabolic measures. The results also highlight gastrointestinal symptoms and the need to consider tolerability when evaluating this approach.
What to keep in mind
The study was single-arm and nonrandomised, with treatment assigned according to early weight-loss response; it therefore cannot establish the added effect of Contrave versus continued BWL alone.