Neoadjuvant Herceptin^® helps eradicate HER2-positive breast tumours prior to surgery

Several randomised trials indicate that high pathological complete response (pCR) rates (ie, no residual invasive cancer in breast and/or axilla) are achievable with neoadjuvant Herceptin^® in combination with chemotherapy prior to surgery in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

• MDACC¹
• NOAH^2.3
• GeparQuattro⁴

In patients with HER2-positive breast cancer evaluated in the MDACC and NOAH trials, a higher pCR was achieved with Herceptin^® plus chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy only.^1,3

Table 2.3 Herceptin® reduces the extent of residual breast cancer when given before surgery to patients with HER2-positive breast cancer1,3

In the NOAH trial, pCR rates were doubled when Herceptin^® was added to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.³ In the subgroup of patients in the NOAH trial with HER2-positive inflammatory breast cancer (n=62), Herceptin^® plus chemotherapy almost tripled pCR rates compared with chemotherapy only.² In the MDACC trial there were no recurrences in patients randomised to chemtherapy plus Herceptin, and estimated disease-free survival at 1 and 3 years was 100%.