title: Long-term remission of a Her2/neu positive primary breast cancer under double monoclonal antibody therapy with trastuzumab and bevacizumab.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The attempt to act on several signalling pathways involved in tumour development simultaneously appears to be more attractive than attacking a single target structure alone. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) over-expression is frequently observed in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2/neu) positive patients with breast cancer and over-expression of the proto-oncogene Her2/neu is associated with an up-regulation of VEGF.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case of a Her2/neu positive patient with breast cancer who refused cytotoxic chemotherapy with its potential side effects as well as mastectomy is presented. Our patient has been receiving the combined double administration of bevacizumab and trastuzumab for more than 4 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case report shows that (a) the combined double administration of bevacizumab and trastuzumab was be clinically effective. (b) The combination of bevacizumab and trastuzumab is safe and non-toxic. (c) Bevacizumab and trastuzumab can be used as a long-term application.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Applied Cancer Research (LBI-ACR VIEnna) - LB Cluster Translational Oncology, 3 Medical Department - Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Kaiser Franz Josef-Spital, Vienna, Austria ; Applied Cancer Research - Institution for Translational Research Vienna (ACR -ITR VIEnna), Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Königsberg
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Applied Cancer Research (LBI-ACR VIEnna) - LB Cluster Translational Oncology, 3 Medical Department - Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Kaiser Franz Josef-Spital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maierhofer
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Applied Cancer Research (LBI-ACR VIEnna) - LB Cluster Translational Oncology, 3 Medical Department - Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Kaiser Franz Josef-Spital, Vienna, Austria ; Applied Cancer Research - Institution for Translational Research Vienna (ACR -ITR VIEnna), Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steininger
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Applied Cancer Research (LBI-ACR VIEnna) - LB Cluster Translational Oncology, 3 Medical Department - Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Kaiser Franz Josef-Spital, Vienna, Austria ; Institute for Radiodiagnostics, Kaiser Franz Josef-Spital, Vienna.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kienzer
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Applied Cancer Research (LBI-ACR VIEnna) - LB Cluster Translational Oncology, 3 Medical Department - Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Kaiser Franz Josef-Spital, Vienna, Austria ; Applied Cancer Research - Institution for Translational Research Vienna (ACR -ITR VIEnna), Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dittrich
keywords: Her2/neu; VEGF; bevacizumab; breast cancer; trastuzumab