Comparison of overall survival between the early use and delayed use of Trastuzumab therapy groups: a retrospective analysis of 128 patients with HER-2-positive advanced breast cancer

Med Oncol. 2012 Mar;29(1):39-47. doi: 10.1007/s12032-010-9798-3. Epub 2011 Feb 8.

Abstract

Trastuzumab has been the standard treatment in first-line treatment of HER-2-positive advanced breast cancer (H2ABC). This study explored whether the delayed and repeated use of trastuzumab could influence overall survival (OS). A total of 128 patients with H2ABC who had received at least one line of trastuzumab-based regimens were included. The primary endpoint was OS defined as from the date of first diagnosis of H2ABC to death. The median OS of initiating trastuzumab in first-line group (n = 56), in the second-line group (n = 32), and the third- or more-line group (n = 40) was 40.6 m, 39.5 m, and 38 m, respectively (P = 0.867). For patients who had received over one line of trastuzumab (n = 46), the median OS was 44 m, and for those receiving only one line (n = 67), it was 27.6 m (P = 0.059). The delayed use of trastuzumab has no negative effect on the OS of patients with H2ABC. There is a trend of improved OS over the repeated use of trastuzumab.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / biosynthesis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Trastuzumab

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab