title: Interaction between Herceptin and taxanes.
abstract: The taxanes and Herceptin have been shown to possess significant clinical activity in metastatic breast cancer. Preclinical testing of taxane/Herceptin combinations demonstrated additive and synergistic interactions with paclitaxel and docetaxel, respectively. In a pivotal clinical trial, combination of paclitaxel (3-weekly) and Herceptin was associated with an increased response rate compared with paclitaxel monotherapy (41% vs. 17%; p = 0.001). The combination therapy also significantly improved time to disease progression (6.9 vs. 2.7 months; p < 0.05). In a phase II study of weekly paclitaxel plus Herceptin in patients with normal or increased tumor HER2 levels, a response was observed in 60% of patients and the regimen was well tolerated. Responses were more frequent in patients with HER2-overexpressing tumors (83% vs. 45%). Preliminary results from a phase II study of Herceptin plus docetaxel in patients with HER2-overexpressing tumors indicate significant activity, with a response observed in 7 (44%) of 16 evaluable patients. The preliminary results of a trial of weekly docetaxel and Herceptin demonstrate a response rate of 54% in 13 evaluable patients. Additional European trials of Hercep- tin/taxane combinations as first- and second-line and adjuvant therapy are ongoing. The results of the studies to date indicate that regimens combining Herceptin with 3-weekly and weekly taxane are effective and well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Service de Medecine Oncologique, Paris, France. veronique.dieras@curie.net
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Diéras
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beuzeboc
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laurence
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Pierga
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pouillart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010166:Palliative Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000032:analysis; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000077143:Docetaxel; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D017239:Paclitaxel; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D043823:Taxoids; D000068878:Trastuzumab