Evaluating the long-term benefits and risks of trastuzumab plus chemotherapy in patients with early-stage HER2+ breast cancer.

This study evaluated the long-term benefits and risks of trastuzumab (Herceptin) plus chemotherapy in patients with early-stage HER2-positive (+) breast cancer (BC). The data showed that trastuzumab added to chemotherapy reduced the risk of BC recurrence and death for these patients.

BC is classified into different subtypes depending on the presence or absence of certain receptors (proteins found on the surface of the cancer cells). HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a protein that promotes the growth of some BC. This subtype of BC is called HER2+ BC. Patients with this subtype of BC commonly receive targeted therapy such as trastuzumab.

Trastuzumab locks onto HER2 and blocks its actions. Previous studies have shown that adding trastuzumab to chemotherapy significantly improves the survival of patients with early-stage, HER2+ BC but is also associated with heart-related side effects. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the long-term benefits and risks of trastuzumab plus chemotherapy in patients with early-stage HER2+ BC.

This study analyzed 7 studies involving a total of 13,864 women with early-stage HER2+ BC. Patients were treated with either trastuzumab plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone. The average treatment duration was 14.4 months. The average follow-up time was 10.7 years.

Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy reduced the risk of BC recurrence by 34% and reduced the risk of death due to BC by 33% compared to chemotherapy alone.

At 10 years, trastuzumab reduced the risk of BC recurrence by 9% and reduced the risk of death due to BC by 6.4%. Trastuzumab also reduced the risk of death of any cause by 6.5%.

Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy was associated with a 47% lower risk of BC recurrence in years 0-1, with a 27% lower risk of BC recurrence in years 2-4, and with a 20% lower risk of BC recurrence in years 5-9, compared to chemotherapy alone.

This study concluded that trastuzumab added to chemotherapy reduced the risk of BC recurrence and death for patients with early-stage, HER2+ BC.