"A pair of studies at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center taking laboratory science to the patient bedside found that combining the molecularly targeted therapy Herceptin with a specific chemotherapy combination resulted in significant tumor response rates and longer relapse-free periods in women with an aggressive form of advanced breast cancer...

...Lead by researchers Dr. Dennis Slamon and Dr. Mark Pegram the laboratory studies analyzed Herceptin for interaction with nine chemotherapy drugs commonly used to treat breast cancer. Researchers found that the chemotherapy agents Taxotere Navelbine Cyclophosphamide and the platinum salts Cisplatin and Carboplatin increased the activity of Herceptin in lab models with HER2/neu amplification. In other words Herceptin and the chemotherapy agents each made the other more effective a synergistic effect. The laboratory studies pointed researchers to the optimum chemotherapy combination which they then tested in the clinic..."