Possible available treatment option for early stage, small, node-negative, and HER2-overexpressing breast cancer

Breast Cancer. 2012 Apr;19(2):95-103. doi: 10.1007/s12282-011-0296-z. Epub 2011 Aug 24.

Abstract

Trastuzumab is known for its clinical activity in women with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. Randomized clinical trials have shown significant improvement in disease-free and overall survival with trastuzumab administered in conjunction with adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer. However, there is no direct evidence of clinical benefit from adjuvant trastuzumab in patients with node-negative, HER2-overexpressing, small (T1a-b) breast cancers. Previous literature shows that most breast cancers with node-negative small tumors have a good prognosis, but HER2-overexpressing disease might still be worse in this population. Some recent retrospective studies showed that an adjuvant trastuzumab-based regimen has a better prognostic effect, even in patients with node-negative, HER2-overexpressing, small breast cancers, although absolute survival differences were small. On the basis of the available literature, we believe that trastuzumab should be considered for patients with minimal HER2-overexpressing disease, although tools for accurate selection of patients at risk of relapse still need to be developed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Trastuzumab

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab