HER2 Status and Benefit from Adjuvant Trastuzumab in Breast Cancer
To the Editor: Trastuzumab, an antibody against the protein product of the human epidermal
growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) gene, improves progression-free survival and overall
survival when added to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer. 1 Initial trials
enrolled patients with tumors that had a staining intensity of 2+ or 3+ for HER2 on
immunohistochemical analysis, but in subsequent studies, the benefit was limited to tumors
with HER2 amplification as determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) …
growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) gene, improves progression-free survival and overall
survival when added to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer. 1 Initial trials
enrolled patients with tumors that had a staining intensity of 2+ or 3+ for HER2 on
immunohistochemical analysis, but in subsequent studies, the benefit was limited to tumors
with HER2 amplification as determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) …
To the Editor: Trastuzumab, an antibody against the protein product of the human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) gene, improves progression-free survival and overall survival when added to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer.1 Initial trials enrolled patients with tumors that had a staining intensity of 2+ or 3+ for HER2 on immunohistochemical analysis, but in subsequent studies, the benefit was limited to tumors with HER2 amplification as determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Trastuzumab also improves disease-free survival and overall survival in the adjuvant setting.2
On the basis of its mechanism of action, . . .
The New England Journal Of Medicine