Vol 16, No 2 (2020)
Review paper
Published online: 2020-05-15
Page views 1251
Article views/downloads 945
Get Citation

Connect on Social Media

Connect on Social Media

Preoperative treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer

Piotr J Wysocki1, Maciej Krzakowski2
Oncol Clin Pract 2020;16(2):69-74.

Abstract

Preoperative chemotherapy is more and more frequently used in the treatment of localized and locally-advanced breast cancer. This approach not only creates optimal conditions for organ-sparing surgery but also provides us with valuable information on the biology and chemosensitivity of cancer. This data is then crucial for the choice of systemic adjuvant therapy. The availability of two anti-HER2 targeted agents (pertuzumab and trastuzumab) for the neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer significantly improves the efficacy of this approach. Significantly increased percentage of patients experiencing complete pathological response correlates with improved outcomes. This article is aimed at summarizing current knowledge regarding the role of pertuzumab in neoadjuvant treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer and comprises essential guidelines for the optimal use of currently reimbursed therapies in this disease.

Article available in PDF format

Purchase Subscription

References

  1. Swain S, Baselga J, Kim SB, et al. Pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2015; 372(8): 724–734.
  2. Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group (EBCTCG). Long-term outcomes for neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer: meta-analysis of individual patient data from ten randomised trials. Lancet Oncol. 2018; 19(1): 27–39.
  3. von Minckwitz G, Untch M, Blohmer JU, et al. Definition and impact of pathologic complete response on prognosis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in various intrinsic breast cancer subtypes. J Clin Oncol. 2012; 30(15): 1796–1804.
  4. Cortazar P, Zhang L, Untch M, et al. Pathological complete response and long-term clinical benefit in breast cancer: the CTNeoBC pooled analysis. Lancet. 2014; 384(9938): 164–172.
  5. Slamon DJ, Leyland-Jones B, Shak S, et al. Use of chemotherapy plus a monoclonal antibody against HER2 for metastatic breast cancer that overexpresses HER2. N Engl J Med. 2001; 344(11): 783–792.
  6. Piccart-Gebhart M, Procter M, Leyland-Jones B, et al. Trastuzumab after adjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-positive breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2005; 353(16): 1659–1672.
  7. Romond EH, Perez EA, Bryant J, et al. Trastuzumab plus adjuvant chemotherapy for operable HER2-positive breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2005; 353(16): 1673–1684.
  8. Robidoux A, Tang G, Rastogi P, et al. Lapatinib as a component of neoadjuvant therapy for HER2-positive operable breast cancer (NSABP protocol B-41): an open-label, randomised phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013; 14(12): 1183–1192.
  9. Carey LA, Berry DA, Cirrincione CT, et al. Molecular Heterogeneity and Response to Neoadjuvant Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Targeting in CALGB 40601, a Randomized Phase III Trial of Paclitaxel Plus Trastuzumab With or Without Lapatinib. J Clin Oncol. 2016; 34(6): 542–549.
  10. Gianni L, Pienkowski T, Im YH, et al. Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant pertuzumab and trastuzumab in women with locally advanced, inflammatory, or early HER2-positive breast cancer (NeoSphere): a randomised multicentre, open-label, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2012; 13(1): 25–32.
  11. Schneeweiss A, Chia S, Hickish T, et al. Pertuzumab plus trastuzumab in combination with standard neoadjuvant anthracycline-containing and anthracycline-free chemotherapy regimens in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer: a randomized phase II cardiac safety study (TRYPHAENA). Ann Oncol. 2013; 24(9): 2278–2284.
  12. Wysocki PJ, Potemski P, Litwiniuk M, et al. Dawkowanie chemioterapii u otyłych chorych. Aktualne stanowisko Komisji Inicjatyw Klinicznych Polskiego Towarzystwa Onkologii Klinicznej. Onkol Prakt Klin. 2012; 6: 234–237.
  13. Buzdar AU, Singletary SE, Valero V, et al. Evaluation of paclitaxel in adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with operable breast cancer: preliminary data of a prospective randomized trial. Clin Cancer Res. 2002; 8(5): 1073–1079.
  14. Buzdar AU, Suman VJ, Meric-Bernstam F, et al. American College of Surgeons Oncology Group investigators. Fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC-75) followed by paclitaxel plus trastuzumab versus paclitaxel plus trastuzumab followed by FEC-75 plus trastuzumab as neoadjuvant treatment for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer (Z1041): a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013; 14(13): 1317–1325.
  15. Baselga J, Bradbury I, Eidtmann H, et al. NeoALTTO Study Team. Lapatinib with trastuzumab for HER2-positive early breast cancer (NeoALTTO): a randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2012; 379(9816): 633–640.
  16. Gianni L, Eiermann W, Semiglazov V, et al. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab followed by adjuvant trastuzumab versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone, in patients with HER2-positive locally advanced breast cancer (the NOAH trial): a randomised controlled superiority trial with a parallel HER2-negative cohort. Lancet. 2010; 375(9712): 377–384.
  17. Untch M, Loibl S, Bischoff J, et al. German Breast Group (GBG), Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie-Breast (AGO-B) Study Group. Lapatinib versus trastuzumab in combination with neoadjuvant anthracycline-taxane-based chemotherapy (GeparQuinto, GBG 44): a randomised phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2012; 13(2): 135–144.
  18. Pierga JY, Delaloge S, Espié M, et al. A multicenter randomized phase II study of sequential epirubicin/cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel with or without celecoxib or trastuzumab according to HER2 status, as primary chemotherapy for localized invasive breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2010; 122(2): 429–437.
  19. Ismael G, Hegg R, Muehlbauer S, et al. Subcutaneous versus intravenous administration of (neo)adjuvant trastuzumab in patients with HER2-positive, clinical stage I-III breast cancer (HannaH study): a phase 3, open-label, multicentre, randomised trial. Lancet Oncol. 2012; 13(9): 869–878.
  20. Sikov WM, Dizon DS, Strenger R, et al. Frequent pathologic complete responses in aggressive stages II to III breast cancers with every-4-week carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel with or without trastuzumab: a Brown University Oncology Group Study. J Clin Oncol. 2009; 27(28): 4693–4700.
  21. Hurvitz SA, Martin M, Symmans WF, et al. Neoadjuvant trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and chemotherapy versus trastuzumab emtansine plus pertuzumab in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer (KRISTINE): a randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2018; 19(1): 115–126.
  22. Guarneri V, Frassoldati A, Bottini A, et al. Preoperative chemotherapy plus trastuzumab, lapatinib, or both in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive operable breast cancer: results of the randomized phase II CHER-LOB study. J Clin Oncol. 2012; 30(16): 1989–1995.
  23. Hurley J, Doliny P, Reis I, et al. Docetaxel, cisplatin, and trastuzumab as primary systemic therapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive locally advanced breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2006; 24(12): 1831–1838.
  24. Yu KD, Liu GY, Chen CM, et al. Weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab therapy improves pathologic complete remission in aggressive HER2-positive breast cancers, especially in luminal-B subtype, compared with a once-every-3-weeks schedule. Oncologist. 2013; 18(5): 511–517.
  25. Sparano JA, Zhao F, Martino S, et al. Long-Term Follow-Up of the E1199 Phase III Trial Evaluating the Role of Taxane and Schedule in Operable Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2015; 33(21): 2353–2360.
  26. Alba E, Albanell J, Haba Jd, et al. Trastuzumab or lapatinib with standard chemotherapy for HER2-positive breast cancer: results from the GEICAM/2006-14 trial. Br J Cancer. 2014; 110(5): 1139–1147.