Re: Predictors of Recurrence after Neoadjuvant Chemo
It's tough to say, Kathy. The fact that Her-2 is a predictor of recurrence is NOT a new twist by any stretch. However, it does seem to indicate that Herceptin therapy did not preclude all recurrences in the stage 11 and stage 111 patients included in this study. We do know that catching Her-2 before it gets roaming about, meaning before it gets to the lymph, is beneficial, but it does not guarantee that there will not be a recurrence. Remember too, that recent studies have shown that being node neg. at dx does not mean that a patient cannot recur because some do. I think the reality is that Her-2, despite Herceptin, is still deadly in some cases. Remember the study regarding Her-3 and Her-4 that did not respond to Herceptin? There is still much they do not know about Her-2. Read Jean's post about GRB7, yet another twist to the Her-2 puzzle.
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Smile On!
Laurel
Dx'd w/multifocal DCIS/IDS 3/08
7mm invasive component
Partial mast. 5/08
Stage 1b, ER 80%, PR 90%, HER-2 6.9 on FISH
0/5 nodes
4 AC, 4 TH finished 9/08
Herceptin every 3 weeks. Finished 7/09
Tamoxifen 10/08. Switched to Femara 8/09
Bilat SPM w/reconstruction 10/08
Clinical Trial w/Clondronate 12/08
Stopped Clondronate--too hard on my gizzard!
Switched back to Tamoxifen due to tendon pain from Femara
15 Years NED
I think I just might hang around awhile....
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