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Christine MH-UK · 06-25-2006, 04:18 PM

It is a bit unusual. There was a trial that used (herceptin+taxotere) followed by FEC, but that was FEC by itself (not at the same time as herceptin and not followed by herceptin). There weren't many heart problems. This trial, FinHer (for Finnland + Her2), was quite small, but with good results, even though the level of FEC used is now much lower than what is currently used (what FEC level are you getting by the way?).

There was also a very small trial announced at ASCO in 2004 in which women got herceptin + FEC together, but as I recall it was a small phase II trial and I haven't seen the followup. I don't think that there was a herceptin tail to this trial, since it was neoadjuvant. Supposedly there weren't heart problems, but I think the followup was short and this was also a small trial. This trial also had good results in shrinking tumours before surgery. This trial was conducted at M.D. Anderson.

I haven't seen anything that combines these things though, so there might be a heightened risk of heart damage, since this seems to be uncharted territory.

Your oncologist may have a good reason for giving you treatment in this order, but you need to make sure that you are comfortable with it.

06-25-2006, 04:18 PM	#4
Christine MH-UK Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 414	epirubicin after herceptin may be o.k., but combo still unusual It is a bit unusual. There was a trial that used (herceptin+taxotere) followed by FEC, but that was FEC by itself (not at the same time as herceptin and not followed by herceptin). There weren't many heart problems. This trial, FinHer (for Finnland + Her2), was quite small, but with good results, even though the level of FEC used is now much lower than what is currently used (what FEC level are you getting by the way?). There was also a very small trial announced at ASCO in 2004 in which women got herceptin + FEC together, but as I recall it was a small phase II trial and I haven't seen the followup. I don't think that there was a herceptin tail to this trial, since it was neoadjuvant. Supposedly there weren't heart problems, but I think the followup was short and this was also a small trial. This trial also had good results in shrinking tumours before surgery. This trial was conducted at M.D. Anderson. I haven't seen anything that combines these things though, so there might be a heightened risk of heart damage, since this seems to be uncharted territory. Your oncologist may have a good reason for giving you treatment in this order, but you need to make sure that you are comfortable with it.