A trial looking at lapatinib, trastuzumab and chemotherapy before surgery for breast cancer (LAPATAX) (EORTC 10054)

This trial looked at lapatinib, trastuzumab and chemotherapy before surgery for breast cancer. The trial was for women who have HER2 positive breast cancer. This means the cancer has large amounts of a protein called HER2.

If your breast cancer has spread into the surrounding tissue (is locally advanced), is inflammatory breast cancer or you have a large tumour, you may have chemotherapy before surgery. If your breast cancer is also HER2 positive you may have trastuzumab (Herceptin) before surgery.

Although this works well doctors are always looking for ways to improve treatment.