AACR Logo Here is some good news for those diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancers. A groundbreaking research suggests that the combination of lapatinib, trastuzumab and paclitaxel can dramatically boost tumor response rates than either agent alone among HER2-positive breast cancer patients. The combination apparently offers a 50 percent rate of pathological complete remission as compared to 20 percent for either agent alone.

A dual blockade against HER2 appears as an efficient way to target HER2-positive breast tumors. While conducting the NeoALTTO Trial, scientists compared the efficacy of lapatinib plus paclitaxel vs. trastuzumab plus paclitaxel vs. a combination of all three agents as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The therapies were undertaken on 455 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. On completion of the investigation, researchers claim that each agent is able to provide a 20 percent remission. A combination of all the three agents, on the other hand, possibly results in a 50 percent rate of pathological complete remission.

Lead researcher José Baselga, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the division of hematology and oncology and associate director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, and colleagues believe that the combination of these therapies would be more effective than either alone. It was concluded that when lapatinib, trastuzumab and paclitaxel are combined together, HER2-positive breast cancers may be treated. The findings seem to be extremely helpful in the health terrain.

The research was presented at the 33rd Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.