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The role of trastuzumab in the management of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: an updated review

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  • New strategy for HER-2 testing and trastuzumab therapy
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Abstract

Currently, trastuzumab is one of the key drugs in the treatment strategy for HER2-positive breast cancer. Although metastatic breast cancer is unlikely to be cured, some HER2-positive patients have survived for a long time with complete response to trastuzumab therapy. In HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, single agent trastuzumab is effective and less toxic. Combination of trastuzumab with cytotoxic drugs is also effective. Therefore, major guidelines recommend using trastuzumab as a key drug in the management of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. However, many clinical questions still need to be solved. In this article, recent evidence was reviewed to find some answers about these issues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan

    Yutaka Tokuda, Yasuhiro Suzuki & Yuki Saito

  2. Department of Pathology, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan

    Shinobu Umemura

Authors
  1. Yutaka Tokuda
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  2. Yasuhiro Suzuki
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  3. Yuki Saito
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  4. Shinobu Umemura
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Correspondence to Yutaka Tokuda.

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Tokuda, Y., Suzuki, Y., Saito, Y. et al. The role of trastuzumab in the management of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: an updated review. Breast Cancer 16, 295–300 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-009-0142-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-009-0142-8

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