New study vindicates controversial “12 months Herceptin” for breast cancer
A new study released overnight has finally settled the question of whether Kiwis with HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer should receive nine weeks or 12 months of the drug Herceptin. The answer: 12 months is better.
New Zealand patients were among the 2100 who participated in the international SOLD (Synergism Or Long Duration) study, sponsored by the Finnish Breast Cancer Group (with support from PHARMAC). Patients were randomised to receive either nine weeks of concurrent Herceptin and chemotherapy, or nine weeks of concurrent treatment plus additional Herceptin extended out to 12 months.
The results of SOLD, presented at the world’s biggest breast cancer conference, the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) at 5:15am NZ time today, have been anxiously awaited by doctors and health funders around the world. While full details are yet to be published, the researchers announced a statistically significantly improved disease-free survival (DFS) for patients who had 12 months of Herceptin. For patients in the 12-month arm, DFS was 90.5 percent, compared with 88 percent in the nine-week arm. There were smaller differences in five-year overall survival: 94.7 percent in the nine-week arm and 95.9 percent in the 12-month arm.
“It’s fantastic to have the reassurance that we’re on the right track here in New Zealand with our 12-month treatment standard,” said (Mrs) Evangelia Henderson, chief executive at Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. “Herceptin has made a huge difference in treating these difficult cancers, but it’s an expensive drug, so it’s important to find out the optimum duration of treatment.”
The 12-month regimen became standard of care here after the National Party made it a campaign pledge in the 2008 election. Before that, women received only nine weeks, a duration that studies had showed to be effective for many people.
The earliest trials of Herceptin mainly involved sequential treatment – chemo first, then Herceptin. But there was a strong suggestion that concurrent treatment might be more effective, and in New Zealand, patients now have concurrent treatment for the first three months, with Herceptin extended out to 12 months.
However, no one knew whether concurrent treatment was so effective that the overall duration of Herceptin could be less than 12 months, saving money and sparing patients from side-effects such as heart problems, which affect a small minority of Herceptin users. The SOLD study was designed to address that question.
“We now have a much clearer picture of the benefits of 12 months of Herceptin, and that’s good news for everyone,” Evangelia Henderson said.
For further information
Evangelia Henderson Adele Gautier
Chief Executive Research and Comms Manager
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