Survival of patients with small HER2 positive, node negative breast cancer and implications for treatment with trastuzumab

Background: HER2 positive breast tumors represent approximately 20% of all breast cancers and are associated with a poor prognosis. Trastuzumab significantly reduces the risk of recurrence when it is administered in combination with standard chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with HER2 positive, node negative small breast cancer. Patients and methods: Between 1999 and 2003, medical records of 293 patients with small (T1a, b), lymph node negative breast cancer were retrospectively reviewed. HER2 positivity was indicated by 3+ staining intensity on i…