Elsevier

The Breast

Volume 20, Issue 2, April 2011, Pages 101-110
The Breast

Review
Rational use of trastuzumab in metastatic and locally advanced breast cancer: Implications of recent research

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2010.11.008Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Abstract

The management of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, a disease renowned for its aggressive natural history, has been revolutionized by the introduction of trastuzumab. Indeed, outcomes for patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer are now equivalent to, if not better than, those of their HER2-negative counterparts. Since the pivotal registration trial, a wealth of new clinical data has emerged regarding the use of trastuzumab in a variety of clinical contexts - adding to the evidence but also highlighting areas of uncertainly and debate. These include the optimal partner chemotherapy(ies) to trastuzumab; the effectiveness of combining trastuzumab with endocrine therapy; the benefits of continuing trastuzumab after progression on a trastuzumab-containing regimen; and the role of trastuzumab in locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer. In this paper we review major clinical trials addressing these questions, clinical recommendations that can be made as a result, and the strength of evidence that supports them. Finally, we identify areas of ongoing uncertainty, and propose recommendations for future research in this field.

Keywords

Trastuzumab
Breast cancer
Locally advanced
Metastatic

Cited by (0)

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On behalf of the Medical Oncology Group of Australia’s Trastuzumab Working Group.