Contra-indications to Treatment Herceptin should be avoided in pregnancy, as its effect on the foetus remains unknown. The drug should also be avoided during, and six months after,breast feeding. Previous anaphylactic reactions to the drug are also contra-indications to its use. Future Uses The response seen with Herceptin in metastatic disease warrants further research in the adjuvant setting. The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) have therefore begun a phase III trial involving more than 100 centres. The trial aims to enrol 2700 women with node-positive HER2-positive breast cancer over five years. The control group will receive four cycles of AC followed by four cycles of Taxol. The study group will also receive H. Patients with ER- and/or Pgr-positive tumours will also receive tamoxifen. Further information on this trial can be obtained from the following web-site: http://cancer trial.nci.nih.gov. It is becoming evident that Herceptin will be used/studied with various other antineoplastic agents. Phase II trials support the use of a combination of carboplatin/docetaxel and Herceptinas first-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer[61]. Genentech, Inc. is collaborating with several research groups to evaluate the combination of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel with and without Herceptin. Another trial will evaluate cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel with and without Herceptin, and a regimen of docataxel, carboplatin and Herceptin. At the Twenty-second Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Winer et al. reported that second-line combination therapy with Herceptin plus vinorelbine achieved a response rate of 71% in women with metastatic breast cancer over expressing HER2. Current data on pharmacokinetics supports weekly administration of Herceptin. However, regimens with three-weekly administration appear to have similar efficacy[62]. This would reduce potential complications and inconvenience, and requires further evaluation. Address for correspondence: Mr Kefah Mokbel, St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, UK. email: kefahmokbel@hotmail.com [Current Medical Research and Opinion 17(1):51-59, 2001] J Clin Oncology, 3/02 Abstract #227, 2003 ASCO Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.