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"Even Small HER2-Positive Tumors May Require Aggressive Treatment
Patients may ask about a widely reported study suggesting that even some very
small breast tumors may require aggressive treatment after surgery. The findings
were presented Friday at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
In the study, women with HER2-positive tumors measuring 1 cm or less had
recurrence rates nearly three times higher than women with similar-sized but
HER2-negative tumors.
According to the New York Times, HER2-positive tumors are sensitive to
trastuzumab, which is not usually given after surgery when tumors are small. The
current findings imply, the Times says, that trastuzumab could reduce recurrence
of even small tumors; however, that possibility was not examined in the
federally sponsored study."
reprinted from Journal Watch
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