@article{3093089,
    title = "Safety and efficacy of trastuzumab every 3 weeks combined with cytotoxic
chemotherapy in patients with HER2-positive recurrent breast cancer:
Findings from a case series",
    author = "Ardavanis, A and Tryfonopoulos, D and Orfanos, G and Karamouzis, M and and Scorilas, A and Alexopoulos, A and Rigatos, G",
    journal = "Onkologie(Czech Republic)",
    year = "2005",
    volume = "28",
    number = "11",
    pages = "558-564",
    publisher = "Karger",
    doi = "10.1159/000088608",
    keywords = "trastuzumab, 3-weekly; safety; efficacy; breast cancer, metastatic",
    abstract = "Background: Trastuzumab has been repeatedly shown to result in
significant clinical benefits and was subsequently accepted as the
treatment of choice for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer -
particularly as first-line treatment in combination with taxanes and as
monotherapy in the second-line or third-line setting. Trastuzumab is
currently licensed as a weekly treatment, although a 3-weekly schedule
could be used conveniently in combination with other cytotoxic agents
that are administered on a 3-weekly basis in metastatic breast cancer.
Patients and Methods: We determined the safety of i.v. trastuzumab (8
mg/kg followed by 6 mg/kg) every 3 weeks in combination with
chemotherapeutic agents administered in 3-weekly courses (docetaxel,
vinorelbine and capecitabine) in 31 patients with HER2-positive
recurrent locoregional and/or metastatic breast cancer. Results:
3-weekly trastuzumab appeared to be as well tolerated as the standard
once-weekly schedule. All myelosuppressive adverse events and the
majority of non-hematological adverse events were typical and
characteristic of the individual concomitant cytotoxic agents. Transient
trastuzumab-related infusion reactions occurred in 5 patients and 1
patient developed cardiac dysfunction, which recovered after
discontinuation of trastuzumab. Efficacy appeared favourable: 18
clinical responses (3 complete and 15 partial) and 8 disease
stabilizations gave an overall response rate of 58% (70% in the 20
patients receiving first-line therapy). Median progression-free and
overall survival times were 9.9 months (95% Cl: 6.3 - 13.5) and 23.1
months (95% Cl: 19.2 - 27.0), respectively. Conclusions: These findings
will likely encourage further evaluation of this more convenient
3-weekly trastuzumab regimen in patients with HER2-positive metastatic
breast cancer."
}