Targeted therapies: Combined lapatinib and paclitaxel in HER2-positive breast cancer

Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2009 Jun;6(6):308-9. doi: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2009.68.

Abstract

A randomized phase III trial evaluated the effect of adding lapatinib to paclitaxel as first-line therapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer whose tumors were negative or untested for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression. Progression-free survival was prolonged significantly in patients with HER2-overexpressing tumors, which indicates that lapatinib exerts its main effects via the HER2 pathway.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lapatinib
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Quinazolines / administration & dosage
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Quinazolines
  • Lapatinib
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Paclitaxel