The survival outlook for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer has changed significantly for the better over the last two decades.
For example, a European cohort study showed that overall survival (OS) increased over 10 years, from 30.9 to 57.3 months, for patients diagnosed with de novo HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, while a retrospective analysis showed that OS now approaches 5 years, regardless of hormone receptor status.
"We have seen the once most aggressive and deadly type of breast cancer become one with the greatest improvements in survival," Jennifer Litton, MD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, told MedPage Today. "Understanding the HER2 receptor and its necessary interactions with other proteins have led to significant breakthroughs."
"This includes monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and antibody-drug conjugates, among other targeted therapies in addition to or instead of standard chemotherapies," she said.
Sara Hurvitz, MD, of the University of Washington and Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, noted that "it's only in the last 10 years or so that it's come to light that if you target the hormone receptors and HER2 in this breast cancer that you can really improve outcomes."
