Effectiveness of Trastuzumab (Herceptin) in a patient with locally recurrent breast cancer after cardiac failure caused by severe cytotoxic pretreatment.
In HER2-positive breast cancer patients, the humanized anti-HER-2 monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin) may improve overall survival. No reports exist regarding the application of trastuzumab in patients with cytotoxically induced cardiac failure and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction or about locally recurrent and advanced disease. In this case report, trastuzumab resulted in a complete and long-lasting response of recurrent and locally advanced breast cancer and was well tolerated in a severely cytotoxically pretreated patient with cardiac failure. We encourage other oncologists to offer trastuzumab also to severely cytotoxically pretreated patients with conditions after cardiac insufficiency or with locally advanced breast cancer.
Gerber
B
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rostock, Germany. bernd.gerber@med.uni-rostock.de
Krause
A
A
Markmann
S
S
Reimer
T
T
Fietkau
R
R
Müller
H
H
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068878:Trastuzumab