Drug helps some in breast cancer survival
Published: Dec. 26, 2007 at 7:11 PM
GENOA, Italy, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- The chemotherapy drugs -- anthracyclines -- aids survival in women with HER2-positive breast cancer, but not HER2-negative tumors, an Italian study says.
Dr. Alessandra Gennari of the National Cancer Research Institute in Genoa, Italy, and colleagues compiled data from eight randomized controlled trials that compared anthracyclines and non-anthracyclines, and also reported HER2 status. Almost 30 percent of the patients' tumors over-expressed HER2.
The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found overall and among patients with HER2-positive tumors, anthracycline-based chemotherapy produced a greater reduction in the risk of relapse or death than non-anthracycline-based regimens.
However, among patients with HER2-negative tumors, there was no difference in survival between the chemotherapy regimens.
Dr. Alessandra Gennari of the National Cancer Research Institute in Genoa, Italy, and colleagues compiled data from eight randomized controlled trials that compared anthracyclines and non-anthracyclines, and also reported HER2 status. Almost 30 percent of the patients' tumors over-expressed HER2.
The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found overall and among patients with HER2-positive tumors, anthracycline-based chemotherapy produced a greater reduction in the risk of relapse or death than non-anthracycline-based regimens.
However, among patients with HER2-negative tumors, there was no difference in survival between the chemotherapy regimens.
© 2007 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
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This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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