New data demonstrate that the addition of Herceptin (trastuzumab) to chemotherapy prior to breast cancer surgery can significantly increase the response to therapy, resulting in substantial tumour shrinkage and even complete disappearance of the tumour.

The phase III study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting investigated the use of neoadjuvant (treatment given prior to surgery) Herceptin in combination with chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of the disease.

The NeOAdjuvant Herceptin (NOAH) study results demonstrated that Herceptin plus chemotherapy completely eradicated the tumour (a pathological complete response to treatment) in nearly twice as many patients (43%), compared with only 23 per cent if patients treated with chemotherapy alone. The study results are highly promising as this increased response to therapy not only results in breast conserving surgery, but could also translate into improved survival for patients.

"HER2-positive breast cancer remains a serious clinical diagnosis, as many patients will experience disease recurrence and progression. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is administered to patients to help render inoperable tumours removable" said Professor L. Gianni, Director of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, in Milan. "The addition of Herceptin to neoadjuvant chemotherapy shows extremely positive benefits for patients".

HER2-positive breast cancer affects approximately 20-30 percent of women with breast cancer. It demands special attention because the tumours are typically fast-growing and there is a high likelihood of relapse.

"These exciting results add to the substantial body of evidence of Herceptin as the foundation of care for HER2-positive breast cancer," said Dr Jean-Jacques Garaud, Head of Global Drug Development at Roche. "As well as providing proven survival benefits in advanced HER2-positive breast cancer, and the best chance of a cure in early breast cancer, Herceptin has now demonstrated its potential to lessen the extent of surgery required for patients with locally advanced disease, which is very welcome news for patients with this particularly aggressive form of breast cancer."