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Both Lisa and Paul are correct, which is why only your onc should interpret the results of breast cancer studies.
I am familiar with the MD Anderson report that came out the first week of June. I am also familiar with long term statistics about HER2, Herceptin, and remission.
First of all Lisa is correct. Statistics confirm that only 25-30% of HER2 positive bc patients have long term success with Herceptin. This percentage is measured using the standard 5 year survival rate. In fact Genentech is now doing studies where they follow HER2 bc patients from their first diagnostics to their eventual remission or recurrence. These studies started late in 2003 and results probably won't be available for a few more years.
BUT and it is a big BUT, Many chemo treatments show initial success but then the patient grows "immune" to the drug and the success is short lived. This includes Herceptin, which is why onc try Herceptin in combo with other chemos, sometimes after only a few treatments.
I believe the interpretation of the results of the MD Anderson studies are clouded due to this phenenoma. The MD Anderson studies were designed only to study pre-operative treatment of tumors with Herceptin and then only for a short period of time. It aims did not include long term survival. Also the MD Anderson studies did not use Herceptin as the sole therapy, but added other drugs to the cocktail.
Warmest Regards,
Joe
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