18FDG-PET for early prediction of complete response to lapatinib and capecitabine in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: a case report

Tumori. 2013 Nov-Dec;99(6):257e-60e. doi: 10.1700/1390.15463.

Abstract

Targeted therapies against HER2 (trastuzumab, lapatinib) have improved the efficacy of treatment and the outcome of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Lapatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting EGFR1 and HER2: it binds the intracellular domain of these receptors and blocks their downstream signaling pathways. In combination with capecitabine, it is the standard of care for patients with trastuzumab-resistant advanced breast cancer. We present the case of a patient exhibiting a complete and prolonged clinical response to second-line treatment with lapatinib and capecitabine after failure of trastuzumab-based therapy. 18FDG-PET allowed the detection of disease remission several months before computed tomography. Molecular imaging with 18FDG seems the most powerful way to measure the pharmacodynamic effects of targeted anticancer drugs. This case report confirms that 18FDG-PET plays a key role not only in detecting metastatic disease but also in evaluating the response to HER2-directed therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Capecitabine
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Fluorouracil / analogs & derivatives
  • Humans
  • Lapatinib
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Quinazolines / administration & dosage
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / analysis*
  • Time Factors
  • Trastuzumab
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Quinazolines
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Lapatinib
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Capecitabine
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab
  • Fluorouracil