Video

Dr. Aithal on the HERceptin Adjuvant (HERA) Trial

Sramila Aithal, MD, from Cancer Treatment Centers of America, discusses the HERceptin Adjuvant (HERA) trial that examined adjuvant therapy with trastuzumab for women with HER2-positive early breast cancer.

Sramila Aithal, MD, hematologist-oncologist and medical oncologist, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Eastern Regional Medical Center, discusses the HERceptin Adjuvant (HERA) trial that examined adjuvant therapy with trastuzumab (Herceptin) for women with HER2-positive invasive early breast cancer.

The HERA trial evenly randomized 5102 patients to receive either 1 or 2 years of trastuzumab or observation alone, in the adjuvant setting. Leading into the trial, 1 year of adjuvant trastuzumab was considered the standard of care.

At a median follow-up of 8 years, patients receiving 1 year of trastuzumab demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free and overall survival. Additionally, no added benefits were observed for continuing therapy for 2 years. Moreover, higher primary cardiac toxicity was observed in those receiving 2 years of therapy.

Overall, the HERA trial confirms that 1-year of adjuvant trastuzumab should remain the standard of care for early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer, adds Aithal.

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