Verzenio (abemaciclib) is not chemotherapy. It’s also not immunotherapy. Rather, it’s a targeted type of treatment for specific forms of breast cancer.
Verzenio is known as a targeted treatment. Its active ingredient is abemaciclib.
Specifically, Verzenio is a CDK4 and CDK6 inhibitor. This means it works in the body by targeting and blocking the activity of CDK4 and CDK6 inside cells. (CDK4 and CDK6 are types of enzymes, which are proteins.) In turn, this blocking action (inhibition) helps stop breast cancer cells from growing, but it doesn’t destroy them.
Verzenio is an oral medication.
It depends. For treating certain forms of breast cancer, you might take Verzenio alone or with other therapies. Other therapies used with Verzenio may consist of either of the following:
An aromatase inhibitor, which is hormone therapy: An aromatase inhibitor (such as tamoxifen) blocks the activity of certain enzymes and lowers levels of estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone produced in the body.
Fulvestrant, which is chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the use of certain drugs to destroy or stop the growth of cancer cells.
Verzenio works by blocking the action of two proteins in the body: CDK4 and CDK6.
If you have a certain form of breast cancer, CDK4 and CDK6 become overactive. Along with hormones like estrogen, these proteins play an important role in how normal cells grow and divide.
When these proteins are overactive, they cause cancer cells to grow and divide out of control. In turn, this action makes the tumor grow and can lead to the cancer cells spreading. The spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body is called metastasis.
Verzenio is an oral drug that targets and blocks the activity of certain enzymes in the body. This action helps stop breast cancer cells from growing. For treating certain types of breast cancer, you might take Verzenio alone. Or you might take it along with hormone therapy or chemotherapy.
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