Avoiding Adjuvant Anthracylines for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Docetaxel and carboplatin plus trastuzumab might be a particularly appropriate choice for women with cardiac risk factors.

Management of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive, early-stage breast cancer was forever altered when trials showed that integrating trastuzumab into anthracycline-based, adjuvant chemotherapy regimens dramatically improved disease-free survival (DFS) and lengthened overall survival (OS). In another approach, researchers in the Breast Cancer International Research Group have conducted a study supported by the manufacturer of trastuzumab to assess whether similar clinical benefit can be achieved with a nonanthracyline-based regimen that incorporates trastuzumab, thereby minimizing or avoiding cardiac toxicity.

A total of 3222 women with early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer (30% node negative) were randomized to receiv…

Reviewing Author

William J. Gradishar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead

Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation

Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)