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FinHer study and adjuvant Herceptin?

Page last modified on: November 20, 2008
Question from MM: Could you comment on the FinHer study presented at SABCS and shorter periods of adjuvant Herceptin?
Answer —Generosa Grana, M.D., F.A.C.P.: The FinHer study was a study of approximately 1000 women who were treated with chemotherapy in the form of Taxotere (chemical name: docetaxel) or Navelbine (chemical name: vinorelbine), given with or without Herceptin. So patients received Taxotere plus or minus Herceptin, or Navelbine plus or minus Herceptin for nine weeks, then everyone completed three cycles of chemotherapy with a regimen called FEC where E is epirubicin.

The study showed that if we're looking just at the chemotherapy itself, Taxotere was slightly better than Navelbine. When we look at the patients who received Herceptin, those patients did significantly better than those who did not receive Herceptin and when Herceptin was added, it did not seem to matter too much which chemotherapy was utilized, whether Navelbine or Taxotere. The importance of this trial is that the Herceptin was given for only nine weeks as opposed to the 52-week schedule the other trials have looked at. This has not changed clinical practice for women who are HER2/neu positive, but this sets the stage for studies that will now be addressing the issue of shorter courses of Herceptin.

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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