
"I was delighted to take part in a clinical trial as it has the potential to really help others in the future.”
This study looked at pertuzumab (Perjeta) and trastuzumab (Herceptin) with a taxane chemotherapy drug. It was for people with breast cancer that was
This study was open to women and men whose breast cancer had spread into surrounding tissue (locally advanced breast cancer). And to those whose cancer had spread to another part of their body (secondary breast cancer).
This study was open for people to join between 2012 and 2014. The team published the results in 2020.
When this study was done the treatment for breast cancer that has spread or come back and is HER2 positive was a combination of trastuzumab and a chemotherapy drug.
The taxane chemotherapy drug could be one of the following:
This combination has helped people with HER2 positive advanced breast cancer live longer without their cancer getting worse. But researchers are always looking for ways to improve treatment.
Pertuzumab is a called a monoclonal antibody Monoclonal antibodies seek out cancer cells by looking for a particular protein on them.
We knew from research that the combining pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel helps people with HER2 positive advanced breast cancer.
The aims of this study were to find out:
The trial team found that the combination of pertuzumab, trastuzumab and a taxane helped people with HER2 positive breast cancer that had spread.
About this trial
This was an international phase 3 trial. Of the 1,436 people who were in the trial 1,429 had pertuzumab, trastuzumab and a taxane. During treatment some people swopped from one taxane to another.
On average everyone had 24 of pembrolizumab and 6 cycles of treatment of taxane.
Results
To find out how well treatment worked the team were able to look at 1,199 people. They had an area of caner the team could measure at the start. Overall treatment helped 959 people. For:
Of the remaining 60 people, for:
The team also looked at the length of time people were without a sign of cancer. They found that overall was just over 20½ months (20.7). When they looked at the 3 taxanes separately the median length of time was:
The team looked at the median length of time people lived after their treatment. They found there wasn’t much difference between the 3 taxanes. The median length of time was just under 5½ years (65 months).
Side effects
Overall the most common side effects reported were:
There were differences in the side effects reported for each taxane.
The reported number and type of very bad side effects was similar for all 3 taxanes.
This is apart from febrile neutropenia and a general drop in white blood cells. These were the highest in people who had docetaxel. And were the lowest in people who had nab paclitaxel.
The side effects that caused people to stop pertuzumab and trastuzumab were heart-related problems. This was most commonly a change in the measurements of how well the heart works.
The side effects that caused people to stop their taxane were:
Conclusion
The team concluded that using other taxanes such as paclitaxel or nab paclitaxel instead of docetaxel was just as safe and helpful.
This may give doctors more choices of treatments that are better tolerated for people with HER2 positive advanced breast cancer.
Where this information comes from
We have based this summary on information from the research team. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists () and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team who did the research. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr David Miles
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
Roche
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Freephone 0808 800 4040
"I was delighted to take part in a clinical trial as it has the potential to really help others in the future.”