Herceptin could drastically improve survival rates

The breast cancer drug Herceptin could cut the number of mastectomies and extend lives among the 44,000 breast cancer patients diagnosed in Britain each year.

Researchers told the European Cancer Conference in Barcelona yesterday that use of the drug in women with inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease, led to the disappearance of the tumour in more than half of patients when combined with chemotherapy.

Among women treated with chemotherapy alone, the tumour disappeared in fewer than one in five.

The results could mean a big reduction in mastectomies and an improvement in the survival rate, they said. Inflammatory breast cancer only accounts for 2 per cent of all breast cancer cases, but the proportion is growing and the disease is especially severe.

Herceptin is only suitable for patients with HER2-positive hormone-sensitive cancer, about a quarter of all those affected. Of 228 patients with HER2-positive disease, 61 had inflammatory breast cancer and 31 were given Herceptin.

Hugh Bishop, consultant breast surgeon at the Royal Bolton Hospital and president of the Association of Breast Surgery, said every woman should be tested to determine if she was suitable for treatment with Herceptin, and consideration should be given to prescribing her the drug.

In earlier research presented to the conference, doctors said use of Herceptin in women with advanced breast cancer extended average survival by two thirds, from 16.8 months to 27.8 months.

Herceptin hit the headlines last year after a series of court cases by women who tried to compel their health trusts to meet the £20,000 a year cost of the drug before it had been approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Nice recommended its use in certain patients with early breast cancer last year, having previously recommended it only in advanced cases.