title: Long-Term Partial Remission with Capecitabine/Trastuzumab in a Patient with Metastatic Breast Cancer Following Progression on Trastuzumab Alone.
abstract: BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of trastuzumab into the treatment of Her-2/neu-positive metastatic breast cancer, cases of long-term survival have become more frequent. Even after tumor progression, trastuzumab seems to retain its antitumor activity which is potentiated by the combination with a chemotherapeutic agent.  CASE REPORT: We are reporting about the unusual clinical course of a young patient with Her-2/neu-positive breast cancer, who experienced progression of pulmonary and bone metastases under treatment with trastuzumab. Upon progression, a combination therapy with capecitabine/trastuzumab was initiated, and a partial remission was achieved which has continued for over 4 years.  CONCLUSION: This unusual clinical course shows that continuing trastuzumab-based therapy beyond progression is a safe, effective, and well-tolerated option which can induce long-term remissions in some patients with Her-2/neu-positive metastatic breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Oncology Group Practice Hildesheim, Neu-Isenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uleer
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yazdan-Pourfard
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Bürrig
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karl-Friedrich
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moisidis-Tesch
authors.forename: Gunter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: von Minckwitz