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Timing of Herceptin after chemo?

Page last modified on: November 20, 2008
Question from PS: Have there been any recommendations for those who are HER2-positive but did not receive Herceptin during their initial treatment and are two or more years out of chemo? If Herceptin is not recommended, why not? Thank you.
Answer —Nicholas Robert, M.D.: This is an excellent question. Of course there's some frustration by individuals who've seen the positive results in using Herceptin in the adjuvant trials. The critical issue is the question about timing of Herceptin treatment. In clinical trials patients received Herceptin no longer than six months after completing their chemotherapy. Just as it's standard to give chemotherapy within one or two months of diagnosis of breast cancer, where we don't think about giving chemotherapy one or two years later after the diagnosis of breast cancer, we use that same approach with Herceptin because we don't know if there's any benefit. There are concerns about side effects like damage to the heart. There is going to be a clinical trial available in this country in which the new HER2 drug, lapatinib (Tykerb), will be available for such women. It is important to emphasize in this trial there will be a placebo offered because currently standard treatment is no treatment because they're years away from their diagnosis.

On Wednesday, June 21, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from the 2006 ASCO Annual Meeting. Nicholas Robert, M.D. and moderator Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. answered your questions about recent advances in breast cancer treatment, updates on breast cancer genetics, information on diet and risk of recurrence, and more.

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

Nicholas Robert, M.D.Nicholas Robert, M.D. is a co-chair of the Breast Committee of the U.S. Oncology Research Network and also chairs the Cancer Committee and Research Committee of the Inova Fairfax Hospital's Cancer Center. 

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.

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