1. Access to Neoadjuvant Pertuzumab for HER2 Positive Breast Cancer in Canada: A Dilemma Increasingly Difficult to Explain.
- Author
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Rayson, Daniel, Gandhi, Sonal, Joy, Anil A., Brezden-Masley, Christine, Gelmon, Karen A., Sehdev, Sandeep, Cescon, David, and Chia, Stephen
- Subjects
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BREAST cancer , *HER2 gene , *TRASTUZUMAB , *CANCER chemotherapy , *ADJUVANT treatment of cancer - Abstract
The addition of pertuzumab to neoadjuvant trastuzumab and chemotherapy for women with early-stage, high-risk, HER2+ breast cancer has been observed to lead to higher pathologic complete response rates (pCR), and improved event-free survival compared to trastuzumab and chemotherapy alone. Based on available data, neoadjuvant pertuzumab is recommended by ESMO, ASCO, and NICE as well as by a Canadian Consensus Guideline Group. We discuss the implications for Canadian patients with HER2+ early breast cancer due to a second and final negative funding decision by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) related to neoadjuvant pertuzumab. This decision will have adverse impacts for up to 1 in 6 women receiving neoadjuvant therapy for high-risk HER2+ breast cancer, due to suboptimal pCR rates and higher risks of invasive breast cancer recurrent events, resulting in the need for more toxic adjuvant therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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