Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with trastuzumab for HER2 positive breast cancers.
Methods: PubMed online database, ASCO abstract database, SABCS abstract database, ESMO abstract database and CBMdisc database were searched for literatures related to trastuzumab in neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancers. A meta-analysis was performed for retrieved literatures meeting the inclusion criteria.
Results: Three clinical trials were included. Meta-analysis showed that compared to chemotherapy only, regimens combined with trastuzumab could significantly improved the pCR rate of HER2-positive breast cancers (RR=1.65, 95% CI 1.28-2.13, P<0.0001) without increasing the frequencies of cardiac toxicity (RR=1.16, 95% CI 0.82-1.64, P=0.41).
Conclusion: In neoadjuvant chemotherapy for HER2-positive breast cancers, chemotherapy combined with trastuzumab is superior to exclusive chemotherapy.