Biweekly docetaxel and weekly trastuzumab treatment in HER 2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer patients

Docetaxel and trastuzumab can be considered to be active drugs for HER 2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This study was conducted to determine the activity of combination therapy with docetaxel and trastuzumab in MBC patients by assessing the response rate (RR), time to progression (TTP) and safety. We administered the combination of docetaxel 30-40 mg/m(2) biweekly and trastuzumab using a 4 mg/kg loading dose and thereafter 2 mg/kg weekly. Between October 2001 and December 2004, 14 patients with HER 2 positive (3+ by immunohistochemistry) MBC were enrolled in this study. The overall RR was 50.0% (7/14), with 1 CR, 6 PR, 3 NC and 4 PD. Median follow-up time was 15.0 months, while the median TTP was 10.8 months,and the median OS 21.8 months.     

Phase II trial of preoperative paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and trastuzumab combination therapy in HER2 positive stage II/III breast cancer: The Korean Cancer Study Group BR 07-01

An addition of trastuzumab preoperatively to chemotherapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer improved relapse-free survival (RFS). This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of preoperative paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and trastuzumab (PGH) combination for HER2-positive breast caner. Pathologically, proven node positive stage II/III breast cancer patients with adequate organ function and no history of anti-cancer therapy were eligible. Patients received weekly trastuzumab with paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) and gemcitabine 1,200 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. Postoperatively, patients completed trastuzumab for 1 year and hormone therapy for 5 years if indicated. All patients received postoperative radiation therapy. Of 53 enrolled patients with a median tumor of 5.3 (range, 2.0 to >12) cm; 43.4%, T3/T4; 75.4%, N2/N3; and 45.3%, positive hormone receptors. The pathologic complete response (pCR) rate was 58.5% in both tumor and lymph nodes. Grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (32%), febrile neutropenia (0.6%), and transient elevation of AST/ALT (1.6%) during a total of 318 cycles. All patients maintained normal cardiac function. With a median follow-up of 40 months, 3-year RFS rate was 84% with 91.7% distant metastasis-free survival rates. Remarkable pCR rate was obtained with non-anthracycline-based PGH therapy for HER2-positive stage II/III breast cancer. Adverse events were mild with few incidences of febrile neutropenia.     

A case of triple negative recurrent breast cancer successfully treated with capecitabine+docetaxel combination chemotherapy

A 73-year-old woman underwent pectoralis-preserving mastectomy for left breast cancer (papillotubular carcinoma, f, T2, ly0, v0, N1 (21/21), T2N1M0 (Stage IIB), ER (-), PgR (-), HER2 (-)) in August 2004. It was called a triple negative breast cancer. She received systemic chemotherapy using AC followed by paclitaxel. In February 2006 (disease- free interval of one year and five months), skin and chest wall recurrences in the left breast were revealed. Systemic chemotherapy using capecitabine (1,800 mg/body/day) monotherapy resulted in PD after 4 courses. Subsequently, treatment with capecitabine+cyclophosphamide combination therapy resulted in PD after 6 courses. Since November 2006, treatment with capecitabine+docetaxel combination chemotherapy was initiated. Each course consisted of capecitabine at a dosage of 1,800 mg/body/day for 2 weeks and docetaxel at a dosage of 60 mg/body (day 8 only) followed by withdrawal for 1 week. After 3 courses, a marked response was seen, and a total of 6 courses were performed. No serious side effect was revealed, and a marked response has been maintained. It is suspected that capecitabine+docetaxel combination therapy is useful for a triple negative recurrent breast cancer which is refractory to systemic chemotherapy.     

A case of paclitaxel and trastuzumab-resistant recurrent breast cancer with liver metastasis responding to S-1

We experienced a case of paclitaxel- and trastuzumab-resistant recurrent breast cancer with liver metastases showing significant improvement by S-1. A 76-year-old woman was diagnosed with left breast cancer(T2N1M0, Stage II B). She received total mastectomy and CEF(cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2), epirubicin 60 mg/m(2), 5-FU 750 mg/m(2))as adjuvant chemotherapy in March 2004. But twelve months later, she was referred to our clinic for management of lung and left supraclavicular lymphnode metastases. Then weekly paclitaxel(80 mg/m(2))and trastuzumab were started. After 2 cycles of weekly paclitaxel and trastuzumab treatment, lung and lymphnode metastases were reduced and the patient showed a clinical response(CR), so she was treated by trastuzumab only. But seven months later, she was diagnosed as a recurrence of liver metastases. She was treated by combined paclitaxel and trastuzumab again, but liver metastases and tumor marker were progressive. S-1 was administered orally 100 mg/day every day for 4 weeks, followed by a 2-week rest interval as 1 cycle, and trastuzumab was injected at 2 mg/kg/week for every weeks. After 2 courses of the treatment, the level of tumor marker and tumor size of liver metastases were reduced. Only rash(grade 1)was observed during treatment. The treatment of S-1 is thought to be effective for taxane-resistant recurrent breast cancer.     

曲妥珠单抗联合多西紫杉醇治疗Her-2/neu高表达转移性乳腺癌的疗效和不良反应

背景与目的:大约有20%～30%的乳腺癌患者Her-2/neu高表达,Her-2/neu高表达与患者的不良预后密切相关.化疗药物联合曲妥珠单抗可以显著提高Her-2/neu高表达乳腺癌患者的化疗有效率和生存率,多西紫杉醇是近年来治疗乳腺癌有效的化疗药物之一.本研究旨在观察曲妥珠单抗联合多西紫杉醇治疗Her-2/neu高表达转移性乳腺癌的疗效与不良反应.方法:22例Her-2/neu高表达转移性乳腺癌患者接受曲妥珠单抗联合多西紫杉醇方案治疗,曲妥珠单抗的首次剂量为8 mg/kg,以后的剂量为6 mg/kg.多西紫杉醇75mg/m2,每21 d重复一次.按WHO疗效评价标准评价疗效,按WHO化疗药物急性和亚急性不良反应评价标准评价不良反应.结果:全组22例患者共完成96个周期化疗(中位数3周期,范围2～6周期),所有患者均可评价疗效.22例患者中完全缓解2例,部分缓解12例,病情稳定4例,病情进展4例,客观有效率(CR PR)63.64%,中位疾病进展时间5.4个月,1年生存率59%.全组患者均可评价不良反应,主要不良反应为骨髓抑制,其中Ⅲ～Ⅳ度白细胞减少发生率为54.5%,部分患者有发热(第一次输注曲妥珠单抗时出现)和轻度的心肌劳损.结论:曲妥珠单抗联合多西紫杉醇方案治疗Her-2/neu高表达转移性乳腺癌近期疗效较高,不良反应轻,患者可以耐受.     

Pathological complete response to trastuzumab and paclitaxel in a patient with inflammatory local recurrence following breast conserving surgery

We encountered a case of inflammatory local recurrence of breast cancer after breast conserving surgery which attained pathological CR after combination therapy with trastuzumab and paclitaxel. The patient was a 49-year-old premenopausal woman whose left breast cancer(T2N0M0)was treated by breast conserving surgery (Bp+Ax). The pathological diagnosis was scirrhous carcinoma, g, ly1, v0, t2, n0, ER (-), PgR (+) and stage I A. Postoperatively, the residual breast was treated by 50 Gy irradiation followed by hormone therapy(Tamoxifen citrate+LH-RH analog). At 26 months after the surgery, local recurrence developed as inflammatory breast cancer. As the recurrent tumor was confirmed to be HER2-positve (3+ by IHC), combination therapy with trastuzumab and paclitaxel was started. After the 6 courses of pharmacotherapy were completed, she was judged to have clinical CR, and subsequently underwent total breast excision(Bt)and skin grafting. No visible cancer cell was observed in the resected specimens, pathological CR was diagnosed. Postoperatively, the patient is receiving trastuzumab alone every other week, and at present 10 months after the second operation, the patient is in CR status and is visiting the outpatient clinic. No severe side effects (over grade 3) from this therapy have been observed. It is suggested that combination therapy with trastuzumab and paclitaxel for inflammatory local recurrence after breast conserving surgery is a treatment of choice.     

Successful combination therapy with trastuzumab and paclitaxel for adriamycin- and docetaxel-resistant inflammatory breast cancer

We present a case of adriamycin-and docetaxel-resistant inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) in which partial response was achieved with combination therapy using trastuzumab and paclitaxel. A 48-year old woman noticed a lump in her right breast. She was diagnosed with IBC and the disease was staged as T4d N1 M0, stage III B. The patient was started on neoadjuvant chemotherapy with adriamycin (50 mg/m2) and docetaxel (60 mg/m2) administered every three weeks. Six courses were performed and the response was evaluated as no change. After one month, contralateral breast swelling indicated bilateral IBC. Bilatera1 mastectomy using the Halsted method was performed. The immunohistochemical results of the Hercep Test was strongly positive (3+). After the mastectomy, right pleural effusion appeared, and cytological examination revealed the cells to be classV(adenocarcinoma). To treat the clinically advanced breast cancer, combination therapy with trastuzumab (initially 4 mg/kg followed by two or more cycles of 2 mg/kg) and paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) were given intravenously every week for eight cycles and then every two weeks thereafter. A total of 32 courses of therapy were performed, the pleural effusion completely disappeared and partial response was maintained for a duration of 482 days. The adverse reactions were mild, and it was possible for her to be treated as an outpatient with high quality of life. This report suggests that weekly combination therapy of trastuzumab and paclitaxel was useful for treatment of adriamycin-and docetaxel-resistant metastatic breast cancer.     

A phase II study of three-weekly docetaxel and weekly trastuzumab in HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer

BACKGROUND: To test safety and activity of 3-weekly doses of docetaxel and a weekly dose of trastuzumab in women with HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-two women, median age 53 years (range 36-73 years), with HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer were enrolled in a study of docetaxel, 75 mg/m(2) q3w for 6 cycles, and trastuzumab, 4 mg/kg loading dose, 2 mg/kg weekly thereafter. Thirty-four patients (81%) had visceral metastatic involvement. Thirty-five patients had received prior chemotherapy as part of their treatment: adjuvant/neoadjuvant (26), metastatic (2) and both (7). Thirty-one patients had been previously exposed to an anthracycline and 11 to paclitaxel. Four patients had previously received high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant. RESULTS: 226 cycles (median 6, range 1-6) were administered. The median delivered dose intensity for docetaxel was 24 mg/m(2)/week (range 16-25 mg/m(2)/week). The intent to treat overall response rate was 67% (95% confidence interval, 52-79%). Median progression-free survival, time to treatment failure, and duration of response were 9, 8 and 12 months, respectively. Symptomatic cardiotoxicity (grade 3) occurred in 1 patient. The most common grade 3/4 toxicity was neutropenia (76% of the patients), although febrile neutropenia did not occur. CONCLUSIONS: Three-weekly doses of docetaxel and a weekly dose of trastuzumab is an active and safe combination in patients with HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer.     

Safety and activity of docetaxel and trastuzumab in HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer: a pilot phase II study

We conducted a pilot phase II trial of trastuzumab administered concurrently with docetaxel in women with HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer. Twenty-five women with HER2-positive (3+ by immunohistochemistry = 16, 2+ = 9) metastatic breast cancer received docetaxel (75 mg/m every 3 weeks for 6 cycles) and trastuzumab (4 mg/kg loading dose, 2 mg/kg weekly thereafter). Twenty-three patients (92%) had visceral metastatic involvement. Twenty-three patients had received prior chemotherapy as part of adjuvant (18), metastatic (2), and both (3) treatment. The number of cycles administered was 121 (median 6, range 1-6). Symptomatic cardiotoxicity (GIII) occurred in one patient. The most common grade GIII/IV toxicity was neutropenia (80% of the cycles), although febrile neutropenia did not occur. No other GIII/IV toxicities were observed. Response rate was 70% (1 complete response and 15 partial responses) in 23 evaluable patients. The combination of docetaxel and trastuzumab is well tolerated and has clinically meaningful antitumor activity.     

A case of liver metastases of breast cancer successfully treated by combination chemotherapy using hepatic arterial infusion of docetaxel and systemic administration of trastuzumab

A 43-year-old woman underwent breast-conserving therapy for right breast cancer with multiple liver metastases (pT3N3aM1, stage IV, ER (-), PgR (-), HER2 (3+)), in November, 2002. Following surgery, she received combination chemotherapy using hepatic arterial infusion of docetaxel and systemic administration of trastuzumab weekly. During therapy, no serious side effects and only grade 1 nausea were observed; after 3 courses, therapy was safely continued on an outpatient basis. Metastatic liver tumors responded to the treatment, and they completely disappeared on an abdominal CT 5 months later. In addition, all elevated tumor markers in serum decreased to the normal range. No new metastatic or recurrent lesions were found 14 months after surgery. We conclude that this combination chemotherapy is safe and may be very useful for the treatment of breast cancer patients with liver metastasis.     

A case of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer responding to trastuzumab plus gemcitabine combination therapy

A 60-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with left thigh pain. She had undergone mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection for right breast cancer (T3N2M0) five years and two months earlier. The pathological diagnosis then was invasive ductal carcinoma with axillaryly mph node metastases. Hormone receptors and HER2 status were negative and positive (3+), respectively. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but bone metastases appeared 18 months after surgery. Although trastuzumab-combination chemotherapy with taxane and/or capecitabine was given, bone metastases in thoracic vertebra resulted in incomplete paralysis in both legs. She underwent thoraco-lumbar vertebral fixation 10 months before admission. A PET/CT revealed multiple bone metastases in the left femur as well as vertebrae, and CEA rose markedly. She received radiotherapy and trastuzumab monotherapy in addition to bisphosphonate. Temporarily, CEA decreased, but because recurrence nests were recognized in the supraclavicle and mediastinum after the eight-month treatment, trastuzumab monotherapy was followed by trastuzumab plus vinorelbine combined therapy. This regimen markedly reduced CEA after three months, but it rose again over the following three months. As S-1-combined therapy was not effective, trastuzumab+gemcitabine (1 g/week and two weeks on/one week off) combined therapy was started. CEA decreased markedly after 4 cycles, and FDG accumulation in the recurrence region was markedly improved. The adverse event during this treatment was minor, and PS was sufficiently maintained. These results suggest that trastuzumab plus gemcitabine combination therapy is effective for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.     

A phase I-II study of combined blockade of the ErbB receptor network with trastuzumab and gefitinib in patients with HER2 (ErbB2)-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer

PURPOSE: To determine the safety, and efficacy of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib in combination with trastuzumab in patients with metastatic HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer were treated with trastuzumab 2 mg/kg/week and gefitinib 250 to 500 mg/day. The primary end point of the study was to increase the proportion progression-free from 50% to 65% at 6 months in chemotherapy-naive patients and from 50% to 70% at 3 months in patients previously treated with chemotherapy in the metastatic setting. RESULTS: In the phase I study, all patients treated with gefitinib 500 mg/day developed grade 3 diarrhea. The phase II study was conducted using trastuzumab and gefitinib 250 mg/day. One patient achieved a complete response, 2 had a partial response, and 6 had stable disease for an overall response rate of 9% and a clinical benefit rate of 28% (9 of 32). Median time to progression (TTP) was 3 months (95% confidence interval, 2.3-4.1) in patients with no prior systemic therapy in the metastatic setting (n = 23). In patients treated with prior systemic therapy (n = 9), the median TTP of 5.3 months (95% confidence interval, 2.8-8.1). Overall median survival was 27 months. TTP was similar in EGFR-positive compared with EGFR-negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: Gefitinib 250 mg/day was the maximal dose that can be safely administered with weekly trastuzumab. Interim analysis of the efficacy suggested that the combination was unlikely to result in clinical benefit compared with trastuzumab alone. These results do not support the use of this combination in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.     

Efficacy and safety of trastuzumab as a single agent in heavily pretreated patients with HER-2/neu-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein is a unique and useful target for antibody therapy against breast cancers that overexpress the HER-2/neu gene. The recombinant humanized anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab, was approved for clinical use in the United States in 1998. It became available in Japan in June 2001. This study focuses on the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab as a single agent in second-third line treatment of HER2/neu-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Between June 2001 and May 2002, we treated 62 patients with trastuzumab, as a single agent or in combination chemotherapy, for second-third line treatment of HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. Twenty-seven of 62 patients were treated with trastuzumab as a single agent. We reviewed retrospectively the efficacy and safety of the drug given as a single agent. The expression of HER2 was determined by immunohistochemical staining. All patients received a standard loading dose of 4 mg/kg followed by 2 mg/kg weekly. RESULTS: Patients received a median of 16.7 weekly infusions (range, 1-66 infusions). Trastuzumab therapy was generally well tolerated. Clinically severe adverse events (grade 3 or 4) included hypotension (7.4%), and hypoxia (3.7%). Grade 1 to 2 toxicity included fever (11.1%) and diarrhea (3.7%). Infusion-related reactions were infrequent, as were serious hematologic complications. Cardiotoxicity did not occur in the study. Three patients had a complete and 3 a partial response, 3 had no change, 17 had progressive disease, and one was not evaluated. The overall response rate in the 26 patients with available data was 23.1% (95% confidence interval, 5.7-40.4). The median duration of response was 6.4 months (range, 2.5-14.0). The median time to progression was 3.1 months (range, 0.2-16.7). Response rates differed by metastatic site as follows: lung 0% (0/12), bone 10.0% (1/10), liver 0% (0/8), skin 50.0% (4/8), lymph nodes 42.9% (3/7), brain 0% (0/2). CONCLUSIONS: Molecular target therapy with trastuzumab appears safe and is generally well tolerated. For treatment of metastatic breast cancer, single agent therapy produces a durable response in some patients but lacks sufficient efficacy. Single agent use of trastuzumab is a viable option for treatment in cases with non-life-threatening disease without visceral metastasis.     

Neoadjuvant trastuzumab and docetaxel in breast cancer: preliminary results

Trastuzumab/chemotherapy combinations have already shown superior results in metastatic breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant trastuzumab and docetaxel in women with locally advanced breast cancer, with or without metastatic disease. Treatment-naive women with HER2-overexpressing locally advanced breast cancer, with or without metastatic disease, were included. Patients received trastuzumab 4 mg/kg loading dose intravenously then 2 mg/kg weekly. On day 22, docetaxel 100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks for 4 cycles was added to weekly trastuzumab. Patients then underwent surgery and subsequent 4 cycles of AC (doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide; 60/600 mg/m2) without trastuzumab. Weekly trastuzumab was resumed 1 month after completion of AC and continued for a year. Preliminary results from the first 22 patients with median follow-up of 15.5 months (range, 2-38 months) are reported. Of these, 9 patients (40.9%) had inflammatory breast cancer, and 6 patients (27.3%) had stage IV breast cancer. Seventeen of 22 patients (77.3%) had objective clinical response, with a clinical complete response in 9 patients (40.9%). Two patients (9.1%) had decline in cardiac function and 7 patients (31.8%) experienced neutropenia, with 2 deaths (9.1%) from neutropenic sepsis. Eight patients (36.4%) have relapsed, 3 with local skin recurrence (13.6%) and 5 with distant recurrence, of whom 1 had liver metastasis (4.5%) and 4 had brain metastasis (18.2%). Combined neoadjuvant trastuzumab and docetaxel induced high clinical response rates for HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, in particular for inflammatory breast cancer. A high rate of brain metastasis was noted, particularly in patients with baseline metastatic disease.     

A phase II study of weekly vinorelbine and trastuzumab in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab combined with cytotoxic agents presents encouraging results in metastatic breast cancer (MBC), but cardiac toxicity limits some combinations. The synergism shown with trastuzumab and the favorable tolerability profile of vinorelbine provided the rationale for investigating this combination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with HER2-positive MBC who had received <2 lines of chemotherapy for metastatic disease were included. Vinorelbine (25 mg/m2 on day 2, then weekly on day 1) and trastuzumab (4 mg/kg on day 1, then 2 mg/kg weekly) were administered for a maximum of 6 cycles (1 cycle=3 weeks). RESULTS: A total of 52 patients were enrolled. The median age was 50 years (range, 26-79 years). Ninety percent of the patients had received adjuvant chemotherapy, 42% received a first line of chemotherapy for MBC, and 69% had disease at visceral sites. The overall response rate was 58% (95% CI, 43%-71%). The median time to progression and overall survival were 7 months (95% CI, 5-9 months) and 26 months (95% CI, 20-32 months), respectively. Grade 4 neutropenia was present in 3 courses; neutropenic fever was not reported. The main grade 3 nonhematologic toxicities were asthenia, neuropathy, diarrhea, alopecia, and nausea/vomiting. No patients experienced serious cardiac toxicity. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that weekly vinorelbine/trastuzumab is an active and safe regimen in patients with HER2-positive MBC with an unfavorable prognosis.     

A case of breast cancer liver metastases responding to lapatinib and capecitabine therapy

We report a 55-year-old female with liver metastases from breast cancer who responded to lapatinib and capecitabine combination therapy as third-line. She was diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma (T1cN1M0, stage IIA). Biomarker of breast cancer was negative hormone receptor (ER-, PgR-) and overexpression of HER2(HercepTest 3+). We started preoperative chemotherapy with weekly paclitaxel followed by FEC100. Then mastectomy with axillary dissection was performed. Histopathology of the breast and lymph nodes showed complete disappear of invasive cancer cells( pCR, grade 3). We performed her adjuvant therapy with trastuzumab after surgery. The liver metastases developed 5 months after surgery. We treated her in trasutumab combined with vinorelbine, and followed by docetaxel during one year and four months. Because liver metastases re-grew during the combination therapy with trastuzumab, we switched to lapatinib and capecitabine combination therapy. After four months of administration, abdominal CT revealed liver metastases were remarkably reduced in size. The efficacy of chemotherapy lasted for eight months.     

Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant trastuzumab combined with paclitaxel and epirubicin: a retrospective review of the M. D. Anderson experience

BACKGROUND: A previously published prospective randomized phase 3 trial showed that administration of 24 weeks of primary systemic chemotherapy (PST) with paclitaxel and FEC(75) (fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide) concurrently with trastuzumab in patients with HER2-positive primary breast cancer resulted in a 60% pathologic complete response rate (PCR) with no associated severe cardiac toxicity. The purpose of this study was to review the efficacy and safety of a similar regimen outside the setting of a clinical trial. METHODS: Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer (defined as either immunohistochemical 3+ or fluorescence in situ hybridization-positive) that had received 24 weeks of neoadjuvant trastuzumab concurrently with taxane and anthracycline-based chemotherapy between 2004 and 2006 were included in the analysis. PST chemotherapy consisted of paclitaxel (80 mg/m(2)) weekly for 12 weeks followed by 4 cycles of FEC(75) (500 mg/m(2), 75 mg/m(2), and 500 mg/m(2), respectively). RESULTS: Forty patients were identified. The median age was 48 years (range, 29-81). In all, 60% of patients had stage III disease and 4 had inflammatory breast cancer. The PCR rate was 55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 38.5%-70.7%). At a median follow-up of 19 months. 5 patients had a recurrence, of which 4 did not achieve a PCR. No severe cardiac events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Stage II and III HER2-positive breast cancer patients achieved a high rate of PCR with trastuzumab given concurrently with paclitaxel and FEC(75) chemotherapy. No severe cardiac events were observed with the regimen. The data concur with the results of a previously published trial.     

A case of recurrent breast cancer successfully treated with capecitabine monotherapy

A 51-year-old woman underwent pectoralis-preserving mastectomy for right breast cancer (squamous cell cancer, f, T1c, ly0, v0, N2 (18/33), p53 (3+), HER2 (2+), ER (-), PgR (-), T1cN2M0 (Stage IIIA) in March 2001, and received systemic chemotherapy using doxorubicin combined with cyclophosphamide, followed by paclitaxel. After chemotherapy, radiotherapy was added to the chest wall, supraclavicular and parasternal regions. In March 2002 (disease-free interval of one year), liver metastasis was revealed. Systemic therapy using docetaxel, and hepatic artery infusion therapy with epirubicin following docetaxel, failed. Since June 2003, capecitabine monotherapy (2,400 mg/day) was initiated for the liver and lymph node metastases in the mediastinum and retroperitoneum. After 3 cycles, all metastases responded and a marked response has been maintained for 15 months. This therapy is being continued (18 cycles), and no serious side effects have been encountered. Capecitabine monotherapy is safe and very useful for recurrent breast cancer.     

Successful treatment of pleuritis carcinomatosa using combination therapy of 5'-DFUR, MPA and CPA as maintenance therapy

A 44-year-old female patient with inoperable, local advanced left breast cancer was treated with 3 cycles of high dose CAF therapy followed by combination therapy of 5'-DFUR, MPA and CPA. The patient was discharged after receiving 3 cycles of high-dose CAF therapy and continued to receive daily oral doses of 5'-DFUR (800 mg), MPA (800 mg), and CPA (100 mg) for 15 months. After 3 cycles of high-dose CAF therapy, tumor marker (CEA, CA 15-3) levels were reduced. Six months later, after 3 cycles of high-dose CAF therapy, the tumor marker levels were within the normal range. No serious side effects were observed during chemotherapy. The patient enjoyed a good quality of life. We thus confirmed that this combination regimen was effective as a maintenance therapy for local advanced breast cancer.     

A phase 2 study of everolimus combined with trastuzumab and paclitaxel in patients with HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer that progressed during prior trastuzumab and taxane therapy

Increased activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is a common factor in putative mechanisms of trastuzumab resistance, resulting in dysregulation of cell migration, growth, proliferation, and survival. Data from preclinical and phase 1/2 clinical studies suggest that adding everolimus (an oral mTOR inhibitor) to trastuzumab plus chemotherapy may enhance the efficacy of, and restore sensitivity to, trastuzumab-based therapy. In this phase 2 multicenter study, adult patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer resistant to trastuzumab and pretreated with a taxane received everolimus 10 mg/day in combination with paclitaxel (80 mg/m² days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks) and trastuzumab (4 mg/kg loading dose followed by 2 mg/kg weekly), administered in 28-day cycles. Endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Fifty-five patients were enrolled; one remained on study treatment at the time of data cutoff. The median number of prior chemotherapy lines for advanced disease was 3.5 (range 1–11). The ORR was 21.8 %, the clinical benefit rate was 36.4 %, the median PFS estimate was 5.5 months (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 4.99–7.69 months), and the median OS estimate was 18.1 months (95 % CI: 12.85–24.11 months). Hematologic grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs) included neutropenia (25.5 % grade 3, 3.6 % grade 4), anemia (7.3 % grade 3), and thrombocytopenia (5.5 % grade 3, 1.8 % grade 4). Nonhematologic grade 3/4 AEs included stomatitis (20.0 %), diarrhea (5.5 %), vomiting (5.5 %), fatigue (5.5 %), and pneumonia (5.5 %), all grade 3. These findings suggest that the combination of everolimus plus trastuzumab and paclitaxel is feasible, with promising activity in patients with highly resistant HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. This combination is currently under investigation in the BOLERO-1 phase 3 trial.