Recent studies have shown Herceptin to be of benefit to patients with metastatic breast cancer who have over expression of HER-2/neu. One study of metastatic breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide (AC) or paclitaxol chemotherapy randomizedpatients to receive Herceptin along with the other drugs or no additional therapy. There were significant improvements in time to disease progression and response rates in the group that received Herceptin in addition to the other chemotherapy.
Acute side effects of Herceptin included fever and chills. There has also been an increased incidence of gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea when given in combination with chemotherapy. One major side effect of concern is an increased risk of cardiac toxicity when Herceptin is combined with anthracycline based chemotherapy. A study showed 27% percent of patients experienced cardiactoxicity compared with only 7% of those taking anthracycline alone and 11% of those taking the paclitaxol and Herceptin combination. Since this is a new treatment, more side effects may become evident as increased numbers of patients utilize the treatment.
Herceptin is currently being evaluated as a treatment for other solid tumors with over expression of HER-2/neu. Herceptin is only approved for the treatment of certain types of breast cancer, but there are a number of studies evaluating other cancers. Patients who are interested in this new treatment should ask their physician if they are eligible to participate in the ongoing clinical trials.