Late Herceptin early stage and concern for later Herceptin resistance
 

The issue of later Herceptin resistance has been discussed on these boards as a rationale of why some oncol. are refusing late Herceptin for early st. breast cancer. My local oncol. has also raised these concerns with me in the past.

Currently, all newly diagnosed her2+ patients are receiving Herceptin. This group of early stage her2+ patients will be given Herceptin for 1-2 years. If a relapse were to occur with them later, would they be resistant to Herceptin, having been already exposed? If Herceptin is targeted anti monoclonal therapy, it seems unlikely. However, do we have any examples from the metastatic population to extrapolate from? Has anyone in that population experienced Herceptin resistance from prior exposure? Thanks for the input in advance.



Fondly,
Robin

ROBIN
I think that most of us who have mets and are Stage 4 on Herceptin, never received it to begin with. I was stage 1 at diagnosis, and stage IV 1 1/2 years later...then was eleigible for Herceptin, as it was only given after mets or Stage IV....the newly diagnosed who get it now are very lucky...I think there will be a lot of prevention for the lucky ones to get it early.

Sheila,

I understand that the current metastatic population on Herceptin never had the ability to recieve it early stage. I guess I was wondering if the metastatic population ever had a break in Herceptin therapy and then became resistent. I assume not, as it appears that once Herceptin is begun in that population, it is never stopped.