Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026
11:34
Building Up a High-throughput Screening Platform to Assess the Heterogeneity of HER2 Gene Amplification in Breast Cancers
Published on: December 5, 2017
13.1K
Pathologic Complete Response in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Trastuzumab in Neoadjuvant Setting
Fareeha Sheikh1, Adil Nazir1, Samia Yasmeen1
1Department of Medical Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP
|February 1, 2019
Summary
Adding trastuzumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved pathological complete response (pCR) in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. This targeted therapy should be considered for eligible individuals with HER2-overexpressing tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Research
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- HER2-positive breast cancer is a distinct subtype requiring targeted therapies.
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is a standard treatment approach.
- Trastuzumab is a targeted therapy for HER2-positive cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the pathological complete response (pCR) rates.
- To evaluate the efficacy of adding trastuzumab to NACT.
- To assess outcomes in HER2-positive breast cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, randomized, double-arm observational study.
- 156 HER2-positive, lymph node-positive breast cancer patients.
- Comparison of NACT with NACT plus trastuzumab.
Main Results:
- Pathological complete response (pCR) was 50% in the trastuzumab group versus 23.9% in the NACT-only group.
- The addition of trastuzumab resulted in a statistically significant increase in pCR (p=0.002).
- Overall pCR was 36.6%.
Conclusions:
- Trastuzumab significantly doubles pCR when added to NACT in HER2-positive breast cancer.
- Targeted therapy with trastuzumab should be offered to eligible patients.
- This highlights the importance of HER2-targeted treatment in breast cancer management.
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