Interaction between Herceptin and taxanes

Oncology. 2001:61 Suppl 2:43-9. doi: 10.1159/000055401.

Abstract

The taxanes and Herceptin have been shown to possess significant clinical activity in metastatic breast cancer. Preclinical testing of taxane/Herceptin combinations demonstrated additive and synergistic interactions with paclitaxel and docetaxel, respectively. In a pivotal clinical trial, combination of paclitaxel (3-weekly) and Herceptin was associated with an increased response rate compared with paclitaxel monotherapy (41% vs. 17%; p = 0.001). The combination therapy also significantly improved time to disease progression (6.9 vs. 2.7 months; p < 0.05). In a phase II study of weekly paclitaxel plus Herceptin in patients with normal or increased tumor HER2 levels, a response was observed in 60% of patients and the regimen was well tolerated. Responses were more frequent in patients with HER2-overexpressing tumors (83% vs. 45%). Preliminary results from a phase II study of Herceptin plus docetaxel in patients with HER2-overexpressing tumors indicate significant activity, with a response observed in 7 (44%) of 16 evaluable patients. The preliminary results of a trial of weekly docetaxel and Herceptin demonstrate a response rate of 54% in 13 evaluable patients. Additional European trials of Hercep- tin/taxane combinations as first- and second-line and adjuvant therapy are ongoing. The results of the studies to date indicate that regimens combining Herceptin with 3-weekly and weekly taxane are effective and well tolerated.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Docetaxel
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Heart Diseases / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / analysis
  • Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Paclitaxel / adverse effects
  • Paclitaxel / analogs & derivatives*
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*
  • Palliative Care
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / analysis
  • Receptor, ErbB-3 / analysis
  • Salvage Therapy
  • Survival Analysis
  • Taxoids*
  • Trastuzumab
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Receptor, ErbB-3
  • Trastuzumab
  • Paclitaxel