Herceptin added to hormonal therapy prolongs progression-free survival for patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer
Roche announced that data from a new study show that the addition of Herceptin (trastuzumab) to the hormonal therapy, Arimidex (anastrozole), increases the length of time that patients live without their cancer progressing (progression-free survival) for patients whose advanced breast cancer is hormone receptor-positive, as well as HER2-positive.
Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer affects two-thirds of patients with breast cancer and is typically considered 'lower-risk' due to successful treatment with hormonal therapies. However, up to a quarter of these breast cancers are also HER2-positive, an aggressive form of the disease that requires special and immediate attention because the tumours are fast-growing and there is a higher likelihood of relapse. This was the first randomised study in this specific subset of 'co-positive' patients, whose prognosis has been uncertain thus far.
Eduard Holdener, Global Head of Roche Pharma Development said: "We are glad to learn from this study that the combination therapy offers a new treatment regimen for these breast cancer patients who suffer from an extremely aggressive form of the disease. We will now work with trial investigators to analyse the full set of data from this trial, and submit it for presentation at an upcoming medical meeting in the second half of 2006. We will start preparations to file these data with health authorities around the world."
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