In a nutshell This trial is examining the effectiveness of the antibody-drug conjugate SYD985 for HER2-positive inoperable advanced breast cancer. The main outcome to be measured will be time from treatment until disease progression or the time taken for tumor growth or spread. This study is being conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, inthe United...
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Can the development of lapatinib-related rash predict breast cancer outcome?
In a nutshell This study investigated how the early development of a rash in treatment with lapatinib (Tykerb) impacts survival outcomes in breast cancer. This study concluded that early development of rash may indicate the patients who will benefit more from lapatinib. Some background Lapatinib is a drug which targets epidermal...
Read MoreThe effect of delaying trastuzumab therapy
In a nutshell This study investigated the effect of delaying trastuzumab (Herceptin) therapy in patients with breast cancer. The study concluded that delays in receiving trastuzumab therapy of 6 months or more leads to decreased overall survival and relapse-free survival time. Some background Some breast cancers depend on the human epidermal...
Read MorePredicting response to lapatinib therapy in HER2 positive breast cancer
In a nutshell This study investigated predictors of response to therapy in patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. The study concluded that mucocutaneous toxicities (those affecting the skin or mucous membranes) could be predictors of the response to lapatinib (Tykerb or Tyverb) in patients with HER2-positive advanced breast...
Read MoreCan pertuzumab improve long-term response rates in HER2-positive breast cancer?
In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess whether adding pertuzumab (Perjeta) to chemotherapy could improve response in women with metastatic (has spread) breast cancer. This study showed that adding pertuzumab to chemotherapy resulted in higher response rates among women with breast cancer that relied on the human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) to...
Read MoreCombining targeted therapies: the benefits of directly targeting HER2+ breast cancer
In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effectiveness of targeted treatments and also compared combination therapies. Some background HER2 positive breast cancer is associated with the over-expression (production) of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2+). HER2+ breast cancer is known to be more aggressive with a poorer...
Read MoreThe effects of not receiving appropriate breast cancer treatment
In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the recurrence (the cancer returns) rates in women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer who do not receive anti-HER2+ therapy. Some background HER2+ breast cancer is a specific sub-type of breast cancer dependent on the HER2 protein for growth. It is often...
Read MoreRetargeting: Treatment for metastatic HER2+ breast cancer that has progressed following targeted treatment
In a nutshell The authors reviewed the benefits and safety of ado–trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla), a treatment for metastatic breast cancer (cancer that has spread to other areas of the body). Some background Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2) breast cancer depends on HER2 for growth. Treatments that target the HER2...
Read MoreBreast cancer in elderly women; can trastuzumab treatment increase the risk of heart failure?
In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the risks of developing cardiac or heart problems while being treated with trastuzumab (Herceptin) for breast cancer. Some background Trastuzumab is a form of endocrine or hormone therapy used to treat patients with human epidermal growth factor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer. Since the approval of...
Read MoreCan genes be used to predict whether patients respond to trastuzumab?
In a nutshell The authors studied whether genes could be used to predict which patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer would benefit from trastuzumab (Herceptin). Some background HER2 positive breast cancers depend on the HER2 protein for growth. Trastuzumab blocks HER2, and is an...
Read MoreIs there any need for trastuzumab after surgery if you received trastuzumab before surgery?
In a nutshell This paper studied the effect of adjuvant therapy (treatment given after surgery) in patients who had a complete response to therapy with trastuzumab (Herceptin) before surgery. Some background Neoadjuvant systemic therapy is treatment used to decrease the size of the tumour before surgery. An example of treatment...
Read MoreWhat is the role of HER2 in ductal carcinoma in situ?
In a nutshell This paper studied the role of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2, protein receptor) in ductal carcinoma in situ. Some background Ductal carcinoma in situ refers to cancer that starts growing from the milk ducts but has not spread to surrounding breast tissue. Treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ usually...
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