Anthracyclines and herceptin (R): New treatment option for patients with metastatic breast cancer

Single-agent treatment with the humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab ( herceptin) has shown remarkable activity in patients with metastatic breast cancer overexpressing the HER-2/neu proto-oncogen. Further significant adv ances could be achieved with the combined use of herceptin and paclitaxel o r doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide. However, cardiotoxicity remains a significa nt and thus far unresolved problem of the herceptin-doxo-rubicin combinatio n. Thus, several studies have recently been initiated to identify equally e ffective but less toxic first-line regimens. Epirubicin, the taxanes paclit axel and docetaxel, Navelbine(R), cisplatin, and Caelyx(R), a liposomal enc apsulated formulation of doxorubicin, were selected for combination with he rceptin in these studies because the appeared the most promising agents.