Breast cancer drug excites doctors

A worldwide trial involving New Zealand patients for treating an aggressive form of breast cancer is being hailed as monumental in the fight against the cancer coming back.

The results of the first stage of clinical trials of the drug Herceptin showed a reduced risk of cancer recurrence in 46 per cent of women with early stage breast cancer.

The trial, which started in December 2001, involved 5090 women from 39 countries, including 31 New Zealand women and their oncologists.

Auckland Hospital oncologist Vernon Harvey, who led the New Zealand trial, said the results were "extremely exciting".

"It creates the prospect of a significant leap forward in treatment outcomes for women with this aggressive cancer."

Trial patients were given varying doses of Herceptin and were monitored for adverse effects over varying lengths of time.

The patients had had early or moderate stages of a type of breast cancer called HER2 positive, which progresses quickly and responds poorly to chemotherapy. It affects 20 to 30 per cent of breast cancer sufferers.

Breast Cancer Advocacy Coalition chairwoman Libby Burgess said the results were "absolutely outstanding".

"It's very seldom that a drug that has been developed has such significant impacts on survival."

She encouraged the Health Ministry to fast-track approval for the use of Herceptin in early stage HER2 positive cases.

"We can save women's lives now if we start to use this drug as soon as possible ... There are side-effects, but there are with every form of this type of drug." She said it would be far worse for the cancer to spread.

Dr Harvey said the trial protected the patients from cancer coming back, as well as providing an invaluable experience for oncologists.

Herceptin is a humanised antibody designed to block the HER2 protein, which can cause cancer.

It is at present available for patients with advanced forms of HER2 positive breast cancer, where there are increased amounts of HER2 proteins on the surface of tumour cells.

Pharmaceutical company Roche said it hoped the trial results would lead to Herceptin treatment for early breast cancer as early as 2007.

Epsom resident Jo Connor, 62, was diagnosed with HER2 positive in July 2003. "I wanted to take part because I had heard early use of Herceptin was so dramatic."

She had an infusion of Herceptin every three weeks for a year, with no adverse effects, she said.

"The results are absolutely wonderful."

Each year, about 700 New Zealand women die from breast cancer and 2500 new cases are diagnosed.

Disease toll

* 700 women die from the disease in this country each year.

* 2500 new cases are also diagnosed.