Dr. Jennifer Litton on the Phase III BETH Trial

Jennifer Litton, MD, associate professor, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the results of the BETH trial, which studied chemotherapy plus trastuzumab versus chemotherapy plus trastuzumab plus bevacizumab in patients with HER2+ breast cancer. The results of this trial were presented by Dennis J. Slamon, MD, PhD, at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on Wednesday, December 11.

Litton says the BETH trial looked at whether or not bevacizumab added benefit to patients with HER2+ breast cancer who received chemotherapy and trastuzumab. Slamon’s presentation showed that bevacizumab did not add any significant benefit, Litton says, but it did add the expected toxicity of high blood pressure, proteinuria and blood clotting.

Litton says she would not recommend giving bevacizumab to this group of patients.

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