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Info on HERA project with Herceptin?

Page last modified on: November 20, 2008
Question from Vicky: I'm taking part in the HERA project in Barcelona (Spain) with Herceptin for two years. I'm in the second year. My oncologist mentioned good results. Can you please tell me more news?
Answer —Generosa Grana, M.D., F.A.C.P.: The most important thing is that you are to be congratulated for being part of such an important clinical trial. This trial has already shed light on the role of Herceptin for early-stage breast cancer and is the only trial of the four that were done in early-stage breast cancer that is addressing the question of longer vs. shorter Herceptin.

Patients in the HERA trial received treatment for their breast cancer with surgery and chemotherapy plus radiation, and only after their treatment was completed did they get assigned to either observation, Herceptin for one year, or Herceptin for two years. The data that was presented at San Antonio was an update on what had previously been presented at ASCO, and it focused only on the results for patients in the observation arm or the one-year arm; there are no data yet for patients on the two-year arm. We have to assume the study has not been stopped early and those patients have not been unblinded (the study has not been closed). So we have to assume the two-year results are not adding much to the toxicity, but how much more beneficial those two years will be over one year we don't know at all.

Right now we know that one year of Herceptin reduces risk of recurrence by 50% and improves those outcomes in women who have both lymph-node-negative and lymph-node-positive disease. We don't yet have much data on survival because it is a young trial and we need more follow-up on those patients. But again, it is a very exciting trial and I would encourage you to continue on it because this trial will help determine how we treat women with early-stage breast cancer.

On Wednesday, December 21, 2005, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2005. Generosa Grana, M.D., F.A.C.P. and moderator Marisa Weiss, M.D. brought you the highlights of the 2005 Breast Cancer Symposium and answered your questions about the latest diagnostic and treatment options for breast cancer.

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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Meet the Experts

Generosa Grana, M.D., F.A.C.PGenerosa Grana, M.D., F.A.C.P. is the director of the Cooper Cancer Institute and heads the division of hematology/medical oncology at Cooper University Hospital.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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