When should trastuzumab be stopped after achieving complete response in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients?
We report the case of a woman with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who achieved prolonged complete remission of multiple liver metastases after treatment with weekly trastuzumab plus paclitaxel but relapsed in the brain soon after stopping trastuzumab maintenance therapy which had been prosecuted for almost three years. In the absence of randomized trials, the optimal duration of trastuzumab administration after achieving complete remission of metastatic breast cancer remains questionable.
Beda
Manuela
M
Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Oncologico Veneto-IOV, Padua, Italy. m.beda@libero.it
Basso
Umberto
U
Ghiotto
Cristina
C
Monfardini
Silvio
S
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors; D000068878:Trastuzumab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000068878:Trastuzumab