heblaj01
12-16-2006, 10:14 AM
This may offer an option to those who believe that Tykerb's ability to target both HER-1 & HER-2 (& crosses the blood-brain barrier) might be at least as effective if not more than Herceptin which targets only HER-2 (& does not protect the brain from potential metastases).
However no such comparison of effectiveness has yet taken place.
http://www.massgeneral.org/news/releases/121106goss.html
EXTRACT:
MGH leading international trial of novel breast cancer drug
TEACH study is phase III trial of new targeted drug Tykerb for HER2-positive tumors
BOSTON - December 11, 2006 - A clinical trial of a new targeted breast cancer drug, led by physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center (http://www.massgeneral.org/cancer/index.asp), has begun enrolling patients. The TEACH (Tykerb Evaluation After CHemotherapy) trial will investigate the experimental drug Tykerb (lapatinib) in patients with early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer who have not been treated with Herceptin, another targeted drug used for the same type of tumor. The MGH is the lead institution for the international trial, which is being sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Tykerb.
"This trial represents another step toward understanding the role of targeted therapies in extending disease-free survival," said Paul Goss, MD, PhD, director of Breast Cancer Research at the MGH Cancer Center, who proposed the TEACH study and chairs the International Steering Committee.........
However no such comparison of effectiveness has yet taken place.
http://www.massgeneral.org/news/releases/121106goss.html
EXTRACT:
MGH leading international trial of novel breast cancer drug
TEACH study is phase III trial of new targeted drug Tykerb for HER2-positive tumors
BOSTON - December 11, 2006 - A clinical trial of a new targeted breast cancer drug, led by physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center (http://www.massgeneral.org/cancer/index.asp), has begun enrolling patients. The TEACH (Tykerb Evaluation After CHemotherapy) trial will investigate the experimental drug Tykerb (lapatinib) in patients with early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer who have not been treated with Herceptin, another targeted drug used for the same type of tumor. The MGH is the lead institution for the international trial, which is being sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Tykerb.
"This trial represents another step toward understanding the role of targeted therapies in extending disease-free survival," said Paul Goss, MD, PhD, director of Breast Cancer Research at the MGH Cancer Center, who proposed the TEACH study and chairs the International Steering Committee.........