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Lapatinib - Member of a New Generation of ErbB-Targeting Drugs

Michael Untch1, Hans-Joachim Lück

  • 1Frauenklinik/Interdisziplinäres Brustzentrum HELIos-Klinikum Berlin-Buch.

Breast Care (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 18, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Lapatinib combined with capecitabine offers improved treatment for advanced HER2-positive breast cancer progression. This combination therapy demonstrated a longer time to tumor progression compared to capecitabine alone, with manageable side effects.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Limited therapeutic options exist for advanced or metastatic ErbB2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer post-trastuzumab therapy.
  • A need for alternative treatments in the advanced setting is evident.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lapatinib plus capecitabine versus capecitabine monotherapy in patients with advanced ErbB2-positive breast cancer.
  • To assess the impact of lapatinib on treatment strategies for HER2-positive breast cancer progression.

Main Methods:

  • A pivotal phase III trial comparing lapatinib plus capecitabine to capecitabine monotherapy.
  • Inclusion of patients with advanced or metastatic ErbB2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer progressing on standard chemotherapy.

Main Results:

  • Lapatinib plus capecitabine demonstrated superior efficacy, with a median time to tumor progression of 8.4 months versus 4.4 months for capecitabine alone.
  • The combination therapy was associated with improved outcomes without increased serious toxic effects or cardiac events.
  • Exploratory analysis suggests earlier use of lapatinib plus capecitabine may improve time to progression and overall survival.

Conclusions:

  • Lapatinib in combination with capecitabine is an effective treatment option for advanced or metastatic ErbB2-positive breast cancer progressing on trastuzumab-based regimens.
  • The findings challenge the empirical practice of continuing trastuzumab beyond progression, suggesting a potential benefit from earlier introduction of lapatinib-based therapy.

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