HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - for all those to whom you have to explain why you are happy at today's news

Lani · 11-17-2006, 02:52 PM

4.Ask your oncologist if you have the opportunity to participate in other research that is testing newer therapies. For example, the experimental drug lapatinib has been found to be of benefit to advanced HER2-positive cancer when combined with chemotherapy, and also when added to trastuzumab. (This last result is based on preliminary findings from one clinical trial, and the agent is slated for testing in earlier stage HER2-positive cancers in late 2006 and 2007.) Newer anti-hormonal treatments also are being investigated for ER-positive breast cancers.
If you are diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer, make sure your treatment center will provide cardiac assessment tests before and during treatment. Dr. Perez says that cardiac toxicity has been seen in patients who have used trastuzumab, but that the problems are usually reversible with treatment, or just by stopping trastuzumab for a period of time. Still, baseline cardiac assessments and periodic checks are a must and ready access to a cardiologist is preferred.

FDA Expands Use of Herceptin for Early Stage Breast Cancer After Primary Therapy [U.S. Food and Drug Administration]
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today expanded the approved use of Herceptin, a biological cancer drug. The new indication is for Herceptin, in combination with other cancer drugs, for the treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer after surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy). FDA granted priority review to the supplemental application for Herceptin.

Herceptin is a targeted therapy against the HER2 protein on cancer cells. When an excessive amount of HER2 protein is present, it causes cancer cells to grow more rapidly and standard chemotherapy may be less effective. In 1998, FDA approved Herceptin for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (cancer that has spread to other sites in the body). Today's approval expands its use to women with cancer only in the breast or lymph nodes which has been removed with surgery. Herceptin should only be prescribed for women diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer.

"This is especially good news for women who have breast cancer caused by excessive amounts of the HER-2 protein because this cancer typically has a poor prognosis," said Dr. Steven Galson, Director for FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

11-17-2006, 02:52 PM	#4
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,778	and more 4.Ask your oncologist if you have the opportunity to participate in other research that is testing newer therapies. For example, the experimental drug lapatinib has been found to be of benefit to advanced HER2-positive cancer when combined with chemotherapy, and also when added to trastuzumab. (This last result is based on preliminary findings from one clinical trial, and the agent is slated for testing in earlier stage HER2-positive cancers in late 2006 and 2007.) Newer anti-hormonal treatments also are being investigated for ER-positive breast cancers. If you are diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer, make sure your treatment center will provide cardiac assessment tests before and during treatment. Dr. Perez says that cardiac toxicity has been seen in patients who have used trastuzumab, but that the problems are usually reversible with treatment, or just by stopping trastuzumab for a period of time. Still, baseline cardiac assessments and periodic checks are a must and ready access to a cardiologist is preferred. FDA Expands Use of Herceptin for Early Stage Breast Cancer After Primary Therapy [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today expanded the approved use of Herceptin, a biological cancer drug. The new indication is for Herceptin, in combination with other cancer drugs, for the treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer after surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy). FDA granted priority review to the supplemental application for Herceptin. Herceptin is a targeted therapy against the HER2 protein on cancer cells. When an excessive amount of HER2 protein is present, it causes cancer cells to grow more rapidly and standard chemotherapy may be less effective. In 1998, FDA approved Herceptin for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (cancer that has spread to other sites in the body). Today's approval expands its use to women with cancer only in the breast or lymph nodes which has been removed with surgery. Herceptin should only be prescribed for women diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer. "This is especially good news for women who have breast cancer caused by excessive amounts of the HER-2 protein because this cancer typically has a poor prognosis," said Dr. Steven Galson, Director for FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.