Dr. Lori Goldstein on Neoadjuvant Treatment for HER2+ Breast Cancer

Lori Goldstein, MD, the director of the Naomi and Phil Lippincott Breast Evaluation Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center, discusses a neoadjuvant trial of lapatinib and trastuzumab with or without endocrine therapy for 12 weeks vs. 24 weeks in patients with HER2 overexpressing breast cancer.

The study determined that a 24-week regimen was more effective than a 12 -week regimen. While it is clear that a longer regimen is beneficial, it is unknown how this will impact overall survival, or if endocrine therapy given only before surgery has the same impact if given before and after surgery, says Goldstein.