MUGA tests show heart damage from Herceptin?
Meet the Experts
Hope S. Rugo, M.D. is a clinical professor of medicine in the division of hematology and oncology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she directs the Breast Oncology Clinical Trials Program.
Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. is a breast cancer oncologist at Paoli Hematology-Oncology Associates in Paoli, Pa., with a special interest in physicians' communication skills.
Question from KathyM: I am in a Herceptin clinical study and have had a number of MUGA tests. I was at 58% at the start and after three treatments at 49% and now five months later at 50%. I'm not having any negative side effects and want to continue for the second year. Do you think that this percentage may continue to go up, or does it show that my heart is being damaged and I should pull out of the study?
- Answer —Hope Rugo, M.D.: It sounds like your ejection fraction is relatively stable, but it depends on the clinical trial and the stage of your disease. It appears that most, but not all of Herceptin heart toxicity is reversible.
On Wednesday, June 15, 2005 our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from the 2005 ASCO Annual Meeting. Hope Rugo, M.D. and moderator Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. answered your questions on the latest research advances presented at the 2005 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Orlando, FL.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
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