Trastuzumab combo questions use of doxorubicin in breast cancer

Docetaxel [Taxotere]-based regimens that include trastuzumab [Herceptin] significantly improve disease-free survival in the adjuvant treatment of patients with early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer, according to results of an interim analysis from the phase III BCIRG 006 study presented at the 28th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) [San Antonio, Texas, US; December 2005]. The multinational study conducted in more than 3000 women also showed that the novel non-anthracycline-based regimen of docetaxel, carboplatin and trastuzumab significantly reduces the risk of disease recurrence without increasing the incidence of cardiotoxicity, compared with a standard doxorubicin-based chemotherapy regimen without trastuzumab.