Efficacy and safety of short course adjuvant trastuzumab combination chemotherapy in breast cancer

Abstract

Background: The adjuvant short course 9-week trastuzumab combination therapy for human epidermal receptor 2 positive breast cancer patients may often be considered as a cost-effective and safe option and has important implications for the Indian subcontinent as well as other developing countries. However, such regimens of shorter duration trastuzumab therapy like FinHer, offered in view of economic constraints, may not be able to achieve globally comparable cure rates in early breast cancer especially with high-risk women with more than 3 lymph node positive. Methods and Material: Outcome of 21 patients with HER2 positive breast cancer was treated with short course trastuzumab combination chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting was studied. Results: Out of 21 patients 15 are alive and disease free with a follow up of up to 73 months (median follow up 42 months).

Adjuvant Trastuzumab: Do we finally know how long is not too long?

“…However, due to financial constraints if only giving 9- to 12-week trastuzumab is possible then this is better than giving no trastuzumab as has been reported from studies in India. 22 23 24 The patients should be explained the pros and cons of 1-year and shorter trastuzumab and their views also need to be considered when recommending the treatment.…”