Coudert BP, Arnould L, Moreau L, Chollet P, Weber B, Vanlemmens L, Moluçon C, Tubiana N, Causeret S, Misset JL, Feutray S, Mery-Mignard D, Garnier J, Fumoleau P. Pre-operative systemic (neo-adjuvant) therapy with trastuzumab and docetaxel for HER2-overexpressing stage II or III breast cancer: results of a multicenter phase II trial.
Ann Oncol 2005;
17:409-14. [PMID:
16332965 DOI:
10.1093/annonc/mdj096]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy has become the standard of care for women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer. Trastuzumab-based pre-operative systemic (neo-adjuvant) therapy (PST) also appears promising, warranting further investigation.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients with HER2-positive, stage II/III non-inflammatory, operable breast cancer requiring a mastectomy (but who wished to conserve the breast) received weekly trastuzumab and 3-weekly docetaxel for six cycles before surgery. The primary end point was pathological complete response (pCR) rate, determined from surgical specimens.
RESULTS
Thirty-three patients were enrolled. The majority (79%) had T2 tumors, with 42% being N1/2. Twenty-nine patients completed six cycles of therapy and one patient withdrew prematurely due to progressive disease. A complete or partial objective clinical response was seen in 96% (73% and 23%, respectively) of patients. Surgery was performed in 30 patients, breast conserving in 23 (77%). In an intention-to-treat analysis, tumor and nodal pCR was seen in 14 (47%) patients. Treatment was generally well tolerated. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 85% of patients while febrile neutropenia was encountered in 18%. Only three patients withdrew prematurely due to toxicity. No symptomatic cardiac dysfunction was reported.
CONCLUSIONS
PST with trastuzumab plus docetaxel achieved promising efficacy, with a high pCR rate and good tolerability, in women with stage II or III HER2-positive breast cancer.
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