[Efficacy and toxicity of trastuzumab combined with docetaxel for Her-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
HER2 is overexpressed in approximately 20.0% to 30.0% of breast cancer patients. This alteration is associated with poor prognosis, and may affect response to hormonal therapy and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy combined with trastuzumab can significantly improve the treatment efficacy and survival of Her-2/neu overexpressing breast cancer patients. Docetaxel is an effective drug used for metastatic breast cancer recently. This study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of trastuzumab combined with docetaxel in the treatment for metastatic breast cancer patients with overexpressed Her-2/neu.


METHODS
Twenty-two metastatic breast cancer patients with overexpressed HER2/neu were entered into the study. Trastuzumab and docetaxel (75 mg/m(2)) were administrated on day 1 and repeated every 21 days. The initial dose of trastuzumab was 8 mg/kg and subsequent doses were 6 mg/kg.


RESULTS
Overall 96 cycles were administrated to the 22 patients (medium three cycles per patient, range 2-6 cycles). All cases were evaluable. The overall response rate was 63.6% (14/22). Two patients achieved complete response (CR), 12 patients achieved partial response (PR), four patients achieved stable disease (SD), and four patients had progressive disease (PD). The median time to progression was 5.4 months. One year overall survival was 59.0%. The major toxicity was myelosuppression. A few patients had fever at first infusion of trastuzumab and minor heart failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Trastuzumab combined with docetaxel is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for Her-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.
Zhou
Ning-Ning
NN
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, PR China.
Lin
Xu-Bin
XB
Liu
Dong-Geng
DG
Teng
Xiao-Yu
XY
Zhong
Jin-Tang
JT
Jiang
Wen-Qi
WQ
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000068878:Trastuzumab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000077143:Docetaxel; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D043823:Taxoids; D000068878:Trastuzumab