Herceptin has been found to reduce the breast cancer recurrence rate in women with HER2-receptor-positive disease.

Most exciting study ever for oncologists

After being involved with this study at Yale New Haven Hospital, I can say with confidence that this trial gives oncologists a lot to be happy about. It is as big a result as we've ever gotten in a breast cancer treatment study. It means that we can now improve the cure rate for some women with
early-stage breast cancer.

Herceptin can reduce the chance of relapse by 50 percent
This large study found that adding Herceptin to standard treatment for early-stage breast cancer, as an adjuvant therapy concurrently with or after chemotherapy, can reduce the chance of relapse by 50 percent.

...this trial gives oncologists a lot to be happy about. It is as big a result as we've ever gotten in a breast cancer treatment study.

While all breast tumors have HER2, only in some will it be overproduced. This growth factor receptor is normal in the development of many systems, but isn't a good thing in cases of cancer when we don't want cancer cells to grow.

Herceptin isn't new. Prior to this recent study, it was first tested and approved in 1998 as a treatment in metastatic breast cancer, where the cancer had spread beyond the breast. While it wasn't a cure, it helped women with HER2-positive metastatic disease live longer. Now, this new study shows how valuable Herceptin is as an adjuvant therapy given after surgery and chemotherapy.

Herceptin — another tool to use in women whose cancer is fueled by HER2

Many women may be familiar with the drug Tamoxifen, since it has been widely publicized. Given after chemotherapy, Tamoxifen helps prevent relapse in women whose breast cancer was estrogen-dependent. Herceptin is now another tool to use in women whose cancer is fueled by HER2.

Herceptin is given intravenously weekly or every three weeks for a year. While researchers aren't really certain how long it should be continued, a year has been shown to be of benefit in these first trials. Everyone with the HER2-positive type of breast cancer is a candidate, except perhaps for cases when the tumor is very tiny and there has been no spread to lymph nodes.

Side effects are also few. Women with pre-existing heart problems need to be watched, as it can exacerbate heart problems.

Herceptin can help improve cure rate
Having Herceptin in our arsenal of treatment tools means we can improve the cure rate. Chemotherapy after a tumor is removed can reduce recurrence by more than 30 percent. Giving an anti-estrogen treatment, such as Tamoxifen, further reduces it by 50 percent for tumors that are estrogen-dependent. Herceptin cuts recurrence by another 50 percent in HER2-positive tumors. Now, that's good news.

We know that 75 percent of recurrences happen in the first five years, so if a woman can go five years without a recurrence, we can say that she's probably "cured."

We know that 75 percent of recurrences happen in the first five years, so if a woman can go five years without a recurrence, we can say that she's probably "cured." We don't often use the word "cure" when it comes to cancer, as women always live with the fear that breast cancer could come back. But I believe that with new tools like Herceptin, and aromatase inhibitors, which help fight estrogen-dependent cancers, we can help cure the majority of people. There's always a chance of recurrence, but we're decreasing the odds more and more each day.

There's always a chance of recurrence, but we're decreasing the odds more and more each day.

Women who participate in trials and studies are the real heroes in this process. Supporting research is very important in advancing treatment and eventually finding a cure. I encourage all patients to consider being part of a trial. Not only does it help the greater good, you'll feel good about yourself and receive cutting-edge treatments.

For more information on this treatment, or to discuss this trial, call 203-785-6221.

Dr. DiGiovanna, MD, PhD, an oncologist at Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Yale Cancer Center, is an associate professor at the Yale University School of Medicine.

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