HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Provacative message on cure of her2 after 5 year DFS....

RobinP · 06-01-2006, 07:09 AM

I thought this article below was very presumptious claiming a cure for her2 bc after 5 years survival. Still, I wonder if it is true that the chance for her2 relapse is really only 25% after 5 years. It probably goes along with some other data that I have read for her2+ hormonal negative; although, I don't know the relapse rate after five years for hormonal positives that are her2+.

News this month
Using Herceptin in some breast cancer patients cuts recurrence

Results of a study published in the October 20, 2005, New England Journal of Medicine have concluded that one year of treatment with trastuzumab (Herceptin), starting concurrently with or after adjuvant chemotherapy, significantly improves disease-free survival among women with HER2-positive breast cancer.

An antibody against HER2
Some women's breast cancer overproduces a receptor protein called HER2. When this happens, it signals cells to grow, including cancer cells.

Herceptin is an antibody against HER2. Previous studies showed it to have an effect in advanced breast cancer that overexpresses -- or overproduces -- HER2. It was investigated by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project for its efficacy and safety after the early-stage breast cancer was removed and chemotherapy completed.

The study, which opened in 2000, was conducted at multiple centers around the world, and was a randomized trial that compared one year of Herceptin added to standard adjuvant therapy versus the same standard therapy alone in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

Almost 4,000 women studied
Almost 4,000 women were studied in two groups. Group one consisted of 1,694 women who were treated for one year with Herceptin and a second group of 1,693 women who were not. At the first median follow-up of one year, 127 recurrences of breast cancer or death were observed in the Herceptin group vs. 220 recurrences in the control group. This represents an absolute benefit in terms of disease-free survival for women treated with Herceptin.

There is a concern about developing heart problems among women who received Herceptin. The study reports that 4 percent of the women who were treated with Herceptin developed heart problems compared to about 1 percent in the control group. However, the statistical risks were not high enough to offset the benefits of the treatment.

Herceptin cuts recurrence by approximately 50 percent
This study concludes that Herceptin can decrease the rate of recurrence of HER2 breast cancer in women by approximately 50 percent. As noted in the study, this degree of benefit in early breast cancer is the largest to be reported since the introduction of tamoxifen in hormone-receptor–positive disease.

Most exciting study ever for oncologists

After being involved with this study at Yale New Haven Hospital, I can say with confidence that this trial gives oncologists a lot to be happy about. It is as big a result as we've ever gotten in a breast cancer treatment study. It means that we can now improve the cure rate for some women with
early-stage breast cancer.

Herceptin can reduce the chance of relapse by 50 percent
This large study found that adding Herceptin to standard treatment for early-stage breast cancer, as an adjuvant therapy concurrently with or after chemotherapy, can reduce the chance of relapse by 50 percent.

...this trial gives oncologists a lot to be happy about. It is as big a result as we've ever gotten in a breast cancer treatment study.
While all breast tumors have HER2, only in some will it be overproduced. This growth factor receptor is normal in the development of many systems, but isn't a good thing in cases of cancer when we don't want cancer cells to grow.

Herceptin isn't new. Prior to this recent study, it was first tested and approved in 1998 as a treatment in metastatic breast cancer, where the cancer had spread beyond the breast. While it wasn't a cure, it helped women with HER2-positive metastatic disease live longer. Now, this new study shows how valuable Herceptin is as an adjuvant therapy given after surgery and chemotherapy.

Herceptin — another tool to use in women whose cancer is fueled by HER2
Many women may be familiar with the drug Tamoxifen, since it has been widely publicized. Given after chemotherapy, Tamoxifen helps prevent relapse in women whose breast cancer was estrogen-dependent. Herceptin is now another tool to use in women whose cancer is fueled by HER2.

Herceptin is given intravenously weekly or every three weeks for a year. While researchers aren't really certain how long it should be continued, a year has been shown to be of benefit in these first trials. Everyone with the HER2-positive type of breast cancer is a candidate, except perhaps for cases when the tumor is very tiny and there has been no spread to lymph nodes.

Side effects are also few. Women with pre-existing heart problems need to be watched, as it can exacerbate heart problems.

Herceptin can help improve cure rate
Having Herceptin in our arsenal of treatment tools means we can improve the cure rate. Chemotherapy after a tumor is removed can reduce recurrence by more than 30 percent. Giving an anti-estrogen treatment, such as Tamoxifen, further reduces it by 50 percent for tumors that are estrogen-dependent. Herceptin cuts recurrence by another 50 percent in HER2-positive tumors. Now, that's good news.

We know that 75 percent of recurrences happen in the first five years, so if a woman can go five years without a recurrence, we can say that she's probably "cured."
We know that 75 percent of recurrences happen in the first five years, so if a woman can go five years without a recurrence, we can say that she's probably "cured." We don't often use the word "cure" when it comes to cancer, as women always live with the fear that breast cancer could come back. But I believe that with new tools like Herceptin, and aromatase inhibitors, which help fight estrogen-dependent cancers, we can help cure the majority of people. There's always a chance of recurrence, but we're decreasing the odds more and more each day.

There's always a chance of recurrence, but we're decreasing the odds more and more each day.
Women who participate in trials and studies are the real heroes in this process. Supporting research is very important in advancing treatment and eventually finding a cure. I encourage all patients to consider being part of a trial. Not only does it help the greater good, you'll feel good about yourself and receive cutting-edge treatments.

For more information on this treatment, or to discuss this trial, call 203-785-6221.

Dr. DiGiovanna, MD, PhD, an oncologist at Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Yale Cancer Center, is an associate professor at the Yale University School of Medicine.

06-01-2006, 07:09 AM	#1
RobinP Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 943	Provacative message on cure of her2 after 5 year DFS.... I thought this article below was very presumptious claiming a cure for her2 bc after 5 years survival. Still, I wonder if it is true that the chance for her2 relapse is really only 25% after 5 years. It probably goes along with some other data that I have read for her2+ hormonal negative; although, I don't know the relapse rate after five years for hormonal positives that are her2+. News this month Using Herceptin in some breast cancer patients cuts recurrence Results of a study published in the October 20, 2005, New England Journal of Medicine have concluded that one year of treatment with trastuzumab (Herceptin), starting concurrently with or after adjuvant chemotherapy, significantly improves disease-free survival among women with HER2-positive breast cancer. An antibody against HER2 Some women's breast cancer overproduces a receptor protein called HER2. When this happens, it signals cells to grow, including cancer cells. Herceptin is an antibody against HER2. Previous studies showed it to have an effect in advanced breast cancer that overexpresses -- or overproduces -- HER2. It was investigated by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project for its efficacy and safety after the early-stage breast cancer was removed and chemotherapy completed. The study, which opened in 2000, was conducted at multiple centers around the world, and was a randomized trial that compared one year of Herceptin added to standard adjuvant therapy versus the same standard therapy alone in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Almost 4,000 women studied Almost 4,000 women were studied in two groups. Group one consisted of 1,694 women who were treated for one year with Herceptin and a second group of 1,693 women who were not. At the first median follow-up of one year, 127 recurrences of breast cancer or death were observed in the Herceptin group vs. 220 recurrences in the control group. This represents an absolute benefit in terms of disease-free survival for women treated with Herceptin. There is a concern about developing heart problems among women who received Herceptin. The study reports that 4 percent of the women who were treated with Herceptin developed heart problems compared to about 1 percent in the control group. However, the statistical risks were not high enough to offset the benefits of the treatment. Herceptin cuts recurrence by approximately 50 percent This study concludes that Herceptin can decrease the rate of recurrence of HER2 breast cancer in women by approximately 50 percent. As noted in the study, this degree of benefit in early breast cancer is the largest to be reported since the introduction of tamoxifen in hormone-receptor–positive disease. Most exciting study ever for oncologists After being involved with this study at Yale New Haven Hospital, I can say with confidence that this trial gives oncologists a lot to be happy about. It is as big a result as we've ever gotten in a breast cancer treatment study. It means that we can now improve the cure rate for some women with early-stage breast cancer. Herceptin can reduce the chance of relapse by 50 percent This large study found that adding Herceptin to standard treatment for early-stage breast cancer, as an adjuvant therapy concurrently with or after chemotherapy, can reduce the chance of relapse by 50 percent. ...this trial gives oncologists a lot to be happy about. It is as big a result as we've ever gotten in a breast cancer treatment study. While all breast tumors have HER2, only in some will it be overproduced. This growth factor receptor is normal in the development of many systems, but isn't a good thing in cases of cancer when we don't want cancer cells to grow. Herceptin isn't new. Prior to this recent study, it was first tested and approved in 1998 as a treatment in metastatic breast cancer, where the cancer had spread beyond the breast. While it wasn't a cure, it helped women with HER2-positive metastatic disease live longer. Now, this new study shows how valuable Herceptin is as an adjuvant therapy given after surgery and chemotherapy. Herceptin — another tool to use in women whose cancer is fueled by HER2 Many women may be familiar with the drug Tamoxifen, since it has been widely publicized. Given after chemotherapy, Tamoxifen helps prevent relapse in women whose breast cancer was estrogen-dependent. Herceptin is now another tool to use in women whose cancer is fueled by HER2. Herceptin is given intravenously weekly or every three weeks for a year. While researchers aren't really certain how long it should be continued, a year has been shown to be of benefit in these first trials. Everyone with the HER2-positive type of breast cancer is a candidate, except perhaps for cases when the tumor is very tiny and there has been no spread to lymph nodes. Side effects are also few. Women with pre-existing heart problems need to be watched, as it can exacerbate heart problems. Herceptin can help improve cure rate Having Herceptin in our arsenal of treatment tools means we can improve the cure rate. Chemotherapy after a tumor is removed can reduce recurrence by more than 30 percent. Giving an anti-estrogen treatment, such as Tamoxifen, further reduces it by 50 percent for tumors that are estrogen-dependent. Herceptin cuts recurrence by another 50 percent in HER2-positive tumors. Now, that's good news. We know that 75 percent of recurrences happen in the first five years, so if a woman can go five years without a recurrence, we can say that she's probably "cured." We know that 75 percent of recurrences happen in the first five years, so if a woman can go five years without a recurrence, we can say that she's probably "cured." We don't often use the word "cure" when it comes to cancer, as women always live with the fear that breast cancer could come back. But I believe that with new tools like Herceptin, and aromatase inhibitors, which help fight estrogen-dependent cancers, we can help cure the majority of people. There's always a chance of recurrence, but we're decreasing the odds more and more each day. There's always a chance of recurrence, but we're decreasing the odds more and more each day. Women who participate in trials and studies are the real heroes in this process. Supporting research is very important in advancing treatment and eventually finding a cure. I encourage all patients to consider being part of a trial. Not only does it help the greater good, you'll feel good about yourself and receive cutting-edge treatments. For more information on this treatment, or to discuss this trial, call 203-785-6221. Dr. DiGiovanna, MD, PhD, an oncologist at Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Yale Cancer Center, is an associate professor at the Yale University School of Medicine. __________________ Robin 2002- dx her2 positive DCIS/bc TX Mast, herceptin chemo Last edited by RobinP; 06-01-2006 at 07:39 AM..