Trastuzumab-treatment beyond progression – the Vienna experience

Background: In human breast carcinoma, Her2 (human EGFR related) positivity is well known to be associated with higher increased relapse rate and impaired survival. Trastuzumab (rhMab4D5) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the extracellular domain of Her2, thereby causing cell degradation. While the antibody is firmly established in the first line treatment of Her2 positive metastatic breast cancer and was recently introduced in the adjuvant setting, it is still not known whether antibody therapy should be continued following the failure of one earlier trastuzumab based treatment line. Patients and…