ABSTRACT
This article provides an overview of recent advances in chemotherapy that may be used for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Key phase ii and iii trial data for eribulin mesylate, ixabepilone, and nab-paclitaxel, published since 2006, are discussed on the basis of recency, depth, and quality.Eribulin mesylate is the first monotherapy to significantly increase overall survival in patients with pretreated MBC, but nab-paclitaxel offers a novel and safer mode of delivery in comparison with standard taxanes. By contrast, the use of ixabepilone will be limited for now, until the associated neurotoxicity can be better managed. Alongside a brief overview of the other major chemotherapies currently in use, we have aimed to provide a Canadian context for how these novel agents may be integrated into clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
Breast cancer positive for HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is associated with a poor prognosis for patients with both early-stage and metastatic breast cancer. Trastuzumab has been shown to be effective and is now considered the standard of care for early-stage patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. In that population, trastuzumab has been studied in six randomized clinical trials. Overall, use of this agent leads to a significant reduction in risk of disease recurrence and improvement in overall survival. Despite the strong evidence for the use of trastuzumab in managing HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC), a number of clinical controversies remain. The authors of this paper undertook a review of the available scientific literature on adjuvant trastuzumab to produce practical considerations from Canadian oncologists. The panel focused their discussion on five key areas: Management of node-negative disease with tumours 1 cm or smaller in size. Management of HER2-positive EBC across the spectrum of the disease (that is, nodal and steroid hormone receptor status, tumour size) Timing of trastuzumab therapy with chemotherapy for early-stage disease: concurrent or sequential. Treatment duration of trastuzumab for EBC. The role of non-anthracycline trastuzumab-based regimens.
ABSTRACT
Women receiving neoadjuvant systemic therapy for primary operable or inoperable breast cancer can potentially benefit in a number of ways, but the main advantage, which has been consistently demonstrated, is improved tumour resectability. Given the improvement in outcomes with the adjuvant use of trastuzumab in patients with early-stage breast cancer positive for the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), questions have been raised about the use of trastuzumab in the neoadjuvant setting. The present paper reviews the currently available data and outlines suggestions from a panel of Canadian oncologists about the use of trastuzumab and other HER2-targeted agents in the neoadjuvant setting.The panel focussed on the use of trastuzumab and other HER2-targeted agents as neoadjuvant therapy in primary operable, locally advanced, and inflammatory breast cancer; and possible choices of chemotherapeutic regimens with trastuzumab.The suggestions described here will continue to evolve as data from current and future trials with trastuzumab and other HER2-targeted agents emerge.
ABSTRACT
The role of targeted therapies in the treatment of women with breast cancer has been rapidly evolving. Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), was the first HER2-targeted therapy that clearly demonstrated a significant clinical benefit for women with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer (mbc). However, in recent years it has become increasingly apparent that, when trastuzumab is used in the first-line setting in combination with chemotherapy, most women eventually develop progressive disease. Determining the treatment options available to women who have progressed while on trastuzumab therapy has been hampered by a paucity of high-quality published data. In addition, with the standard use of trastuzumab in the adjuvant setting (for eligible HER2-positive patients), the role of anti-HER2 agents for patients who experience a breast cancer relapse has become a clinically relevant question. This manuscript reviews current available data and outlines suggestions from a panel of Canadian oncologists about the use of trastuzumab and other HER2-targeted agents in two key mbc indications:Treatment for women with HER2-positive mbc progressing on trastuzumab (that is, treatment beyond progression)Treatment for women with HER2-positive mbc recurring following adjuvant trastuzumab (that is, re-treatment)The suggestions set out here will continue to evolve as data and future trials with trastuzumab and other HER2-targeted agents emerge.
