Trastuzumab in Treating Women With HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer

Overview

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as trastuzumab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. It is not yet known which regimen of trastuzumab is more effective in treating early breast cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is comparing two trastuzumab regimens to see how well they work in treating women with HER2-positive early breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine disease-free survival of women with HER2-positive early breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant or adjuvant trastuzumab (Herceptin®) for 6 months versus 12 months. Secondary * Determine the overall survival of patients treated with these regimens. * Determine the expected incremental cost effectiveness (cost per quality adjusted life year gained) for 6 months versus 12 months trastuzumab. * Determine cardiac function as assessed by left ventricular ejection fraction every 3 months during treatment. * Analyze the predictive factors for development of cardiac damage. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to estrogen receptor status (negative vs positive); chemotherapy timing (adjuvant vs neoadjuvant); chemotherapy type (anthracycline based \[no taxane\] vs taxane and anthracyclines vs taxane-based \[no anthracyclines\]); and trastuzumab (Herceptin®) timing (concurrently vs sequentially \[with respect to chemotherapy\]). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients receive trastuzumab IV over 30-90 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for up to 12 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. * Arm II: Patients receive trastuzumab IV over 30-90 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for up to 6 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. All patients also receive standard chemotherapy regimens as per local institutional protocols either concurrently with or sequentially to trastuzumab. Patients complete quality of life questionnaires using the EuroQoL-5D (EQ-5D) at baseline and periodically during study treatment. Patients also complete a diary on out-of-pocket expenses associated with their condition (i.e., travel expenses, over-the-counter medicines and supplements, complementary therapies not funded by NHS, home help, and time away from work) for cost-effective analysis. After completion of study therapy, patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year, then every 6 months for 1 year, and annually thereafter.

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Eligibility

Locations (11)

Outcomes