title: Examination of the clinical efficacy of eribulin and trastuzumab in HER2-positive recurrent breast cancer.
abstract: There are limited studies reported that describe the efficacy of eribulin and trastuzumab in the treatment of recurrent breast cancer. The present study examined the therapeutic efficacy of eribulin and trastuzumab in the treatment of recurrent breast cancer. Between October 2011 and August 2013, 5 recurrent breast cancer patients who were treated with eribulin and trastuzumab were included in the study. The cancer stages in the 5 women who received this regimen were stage IIIB in 1 (20%) and stage IV in 4 (80%). The sites of recurrence were the lung in 3 patients, liver in 2, bone in 1, brain in 1, supraclavicular lymph nodes in 1, infraclavicular lymph nodes in 1 and mediastinal lymph nodes in 1. The median number of prior treatment regimens was 5 (range, 5-11). Complete response was achieved in 0 patients, 1 achieved partial response, 3 had stable disease, and 1 had progressive disease. The overall response rate was 20%, and the clinical benefit rate was 80%. Patients also reported grade 3/4 neutropenia (80.0%). However, hematological toxicity was reversible and manageable. The most common grade 3/4 nonhematological toxicities were fatigue (20.0%), peripheral neuropathy (20.0%) and appetite loss (20.0%). No patients withdrew from treatment, and favorable compliance was achieved in the study. The results indicated that eribulin and trastuzumab have the potential to be one of the drugs for treatment of recurrent breast cancer.
authors: Division of Modern Medical Technology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Hiroshima 737-0023, Japan.
authors: Takayoshi
authors: T
authors: Kiba
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Hiroshima 737-0023, Japan; Department of Breast Surgery, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Nara 632-8552, Japan.
authors: Nao
authors: N
authors: Morii
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Hiroshima 737-0023, Japan.
authors: Hirotoshi
authors: H
authors: Takahashi
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Hiroshima 737-0023, Japan.
authors: Shinji
authors: S
authors: Ozaki
authors: Clinical Trial Management Office, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Hiroshima 737-0023, Japan.
authors: Misao
authors: M
authors: Atsumi
authors: Clinical Trial Management Office, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Hiroshima 737-0023, Japan.
authors: Fumi
authors: F
authors: Masumoto
authors: Division of Modern Medical Technology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Hiroshima 737-0023, Japan.
authors: Yoshimi
authors: Y
authors: Shitakubo
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Hiroshima 737-0023, Japan; Department of Breast Surgery, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Nara 632-8552, Japan.
authors: Hiroyasu
authors: H
authors: Yamashiro
keywords: breast cancer; eribulin; trastuzumab