The effectiveness of trastuzumab (Herceptin) combined with chemotherapy for gastric carcinoma with overexpression of the c-erbB-2 protein.
The c-erbB-2 protein is overexpressed in 7% of gastric cancer cases, suggesting that anti-c-erbB-2 antibody therapy (trastuzumab; Herceptin) could be used. We report here a 28-year-old woman with metastatic gastric cancer overexpressing c-erbB-2 (3 + strong membrane staining on immunohistochemistry) who was treated with trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy. A complete response was obtained with a combination of trastuzumab and oxaliplatin and was maintained with trastuzumab alone for 18 months. The patient relapsed and chemotherapy (capecitabine, docetaxel) was combined with the anti-c-erbB-2 antibody. The patient survived for 4 years with metastatic disease controlled for 2 years by immunochemotherapy. We conclude that the combination of trastuzumab and chemotherapy is efficient in the treatment of metastatic gastric carcinoma with overexpression of the c-erbB-2 protein.
Rebischung
Christine
C
Department of Oncology and Haematology, University Hospital, BP 217-38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
Barnoud
Raphaëlle
R
Stéfani
Laetitia
L
Faucheron
Jean-Luc
JL
Mousseau
Mireille
M
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000068878:Trastuzumab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000068878:Trastuzumab