[The role of trastuzumab in mammary carcinoma in The Netherlands].
Trastuzumab is the first humanised monoclonal antibody to demonstrate activity in patients with HER2/neu-positive breast cancer. It has taken almost 20 years of research from the first description of HER2/neu as an unfavourable prognostic factor until the development of a clinically applicable antibody that has now shown convincing activity in the adjuvant setting: not only progression-free survival (HR: 0.48-0.54) but also distant disease-free survival (HR: 0.47-0.49) and overall survival (HR: 0.41-0.67) were improved after four years. It is a good thing, therefore, that shortly after the publication of these striking results, the specialists concerned have designated trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy as the standard adjuvant treatment for patients with HER2/neu-positive rumours. This decision anticipates the formal registration for this indication and the rules for reimbursement. Nevertheless, this effective form of treatment may not be withheld from the patients concerned in the Netherlands merely on formal grounds, since there can be no doubt as to the indication.
Willemse
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PH
Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, afd. Medische Oncologie, Hanzeplein I, 9713 GZ, Groningen. p.h.b.willemse@int.umcg.nl
de Vries
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EG
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009426:Netherlands; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000068878:Trastuzumab