21 Oct HER2+ Breast Cancer: Trastuzumab Increased Survival

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Edith A. Perez, MD
Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville, FL 32224

Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Perez: Our joint analysis of two large prospective trials showed that adding one year of Trastuzumab to otherwise standard adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved long term survival in women with resected HER2+ breast cancer.

Medical Research:  What was most surprising about the results?

Dr. Perez: Although the Trastuzumab was given for only a year starting around the middle of chemotherapy, the benefits are long lasting with very few significant side effects.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Perez:  Science and clinical trials helped us identify a treatment regimen that helps improve survival for patients who had undergone surgery for HER2+ breast cancer.

Medical Research:  What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Perez: Continue to identify biomarkers to best predict efficacy and tolerability.

Citation:

Trastuzumab Plus Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Breast Cancer: Planned Joint Analysis of Overall Survival From NSABP B-31 and NCCTG N9831

Edith A. Perez, Edward H. Romond, Vera J. Suman, Jong-Hyeon Jeong, George Sledge, Charles E. Geyer Jr, Silvana Martino, Priya Rastogi, Julie Gralow, Sandra M. Swain, Eric P. Winer, Gerardo Colon-Otero, Nancy E. Davidson, Eleftherios Mamounas, Jo Anne Zujewski, and Norman Wolmark

JCO JCO.2014.55.5730; published online on October 20, 2014;

Last Updated on October 21, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD