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Herceptin for HER2-positive breast cancer improves long-term survival

Date: Dec-16-2014
A study that analyzed the long-term safety and effectiveness of

trastuzumab - more commonly known as Herceptin - found it significantly

improves long-term survival of patients with HER-2 positive breast cancer when

combined with chemotherapy.

A new study shows that Herceptin

improves long-term survival of patients with HER2-positive breast

cancers.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology,

analyzed data from two independent trials designed to examine overall survival

of patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who received

chemotherapy with and without Herceptin.

The authors note that over 4,000 patients with HER2-positive operable

breast cancer were enrolled and given "doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide

followed by paclitaxel with or without trastuzumab in both trials."

Study co-author Charles E. Geyer Jr., physician-researcher at Virginia

Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center in Richmond and professor

in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care at the VCU School

of Medicine, says:

"We have found that when Herceptin is used in combination with

chemotherapy, a patient's survival is significantly improved."

"There are minimal long-term side effects, and the likelihood of the cancer

recurring is greatly reduced," he adds.

The two trials that the study follows up are the same ones whose early

results led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006 to approve

Herceptin as an adjuvant treatment for HER2-positive breast cancers.

10-year survival improved from 75% to 84% with Herceptin

The new analysis - which looked at overall survival rates up to 10 years

after treatment - specifically addressed whether or not patients experienced a

return of their cancer and whether any cardiac side effects were harmful

enough to negate any benefits of treatment.

The results show that the 10-year survival for HER2-positive breast cancer

patients who received chemotherapy without Herceptin was 75%, whereas for

those who also had Herceptin, it was 84%.

The results also show improvement in disease-free survival. In patients who

received chemotherapy without Herceptin, the 10-year disease-free survival rate

was 62%, compared with 74% in those who also had Herceptin.

As to cardiac side-effects - a known risk for Herceptin patients - the

incidence was found to be around 3%, and most of the patients affected

recovered from the initial effects.

Herceptin is primarily used alongside chemotherapy to treat breast cancer

patients whose cancer is HER2-positive. This type of breast cancer is often

more aggressive than other types.

Up to 20% of breast cancers are due to HER2

HER2 - or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 - refers to the HER2

gene and its associated protein. The protein helps to control the growth of

healthy cells. But if the HER2 gene is amplified, or the protein is over-expressed, the cells can grow uncontrollably and lead to cancer.

Up to 20% of invasive breast cancers are a result of HER2 gene

amplification or overexpression of HER2 protein.

The two trials behind the study were supported by the National Cancer

Institute. Funds for the long-term follow-up study came from National

Institutes of Health grants, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Genentech

(the developers of Herceptin) and the Cancer and Leukemia Group B.

In July 2014,  Medical News Today reported how researchers

discovered a new target for the treatment of a particularly aggressive breast

cancer. The molecule concerned - known as αvβ6 - could also identify

patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who have a higher risk of developing

secondary tumors.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

Not to be reproduced without permission.

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Courtesy: Medical News Today
Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.