Addition of traustuzumab to adjuvant anthracycline and taxane based chemotherapy does not worsen long-term heart function or health related quality of life.

This study set out to evaluate heart function in patients who received traustuzumab with anthracycline and taxane–based chemotherapy. This study concluded that, in patients without heart disease at baseline, adding traustuzumab to adjuvant anthracycline and taxane–based chemotherapy does not worsen heart function or health-related quality of life long-term. 

Breast cancer is classified into different subtypes depending on the presence or absence of certain receptors (proteins found on the surface of the cancer cells). Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) is a receptor that is targeted by trastuzumab (Herceptin). Anthracycline and taxane–based chemotherapy (such as doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxol) is used with or without trastuzumab for adjuvant treatment of lymph node positive and HER-2 positive early breast cancer. 

It is unclear what long-term effect this combined chemotherapy regime and trastuzumab has on heart function. 

441 patients were included in this study and were followed for 8.8 years. Heart function and quality of life were monitored using questionnaires. 

There were no significant changes to long-term heart function or quality of life with the addition of trastuzumab. 

This study concluded that, in patients without heart disease at baseline, adding trastuzumab to adjuvant anthracycline and taxane-based chemotherapy does not worsen heart function or health related quality of life long-term.

The median age of participants in this study was 50 years, which could impact on results.