title: Gemcitabine and trastuzumab combinations for patients with metastatic breast cancer overexpressing HER2/neu.
abstract: In HER2/neu-positive metastatic breast cancer, the combination of chemotherapy and trastuzumab has become a standard of care. This review discusses HER2/neu overexpression in breast cancer and the use of trastuzumab-based therapies. Specifically, the rationale for a gemcitabine/trastuzumab combination in this disease entity and the available clinical data on the use of the combination are discussed. Response rates of 12%-42% have been seen with single-agent gemcitabine and 37%-62% with trastuzumab/gemcitabine combinations. Further work is currently ongoing to examine this promising combination.
authors.affiliation: Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA. steven.stein@uphs.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DeMichele
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Domchek
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D000093542:Gemcitabine