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Pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel reduced the recurrence of brain metastasis from breast cancer: a case report

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Abstract

The CLEOPATRA trial reported the survival benefit of pertuzumab with trastuzumab plus docetaxel in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients. However, there are a few case reports concerning the effects of a pertuzumab-containing regimen on brain metastases. A 55-year-old woman, who underwent curative surgery for breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy 5 years previously, developed repeated solitary brain metastasis in her right occipital lobe. Whole brain radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery and 3 times of surgical resection were performed. Lapatinib and capecitabine plus tamoxifen were administered. The metastasis recurred in the stump of the previous surgery. Pertuzumab with trastuzumab plus docetaxel was initiated as second-line chemotherapy. A complete response of the brain metastasis was achieved, which persisted for 5 months. Pertuzumab with trastuzumab plus docetaxel was effective in reducing the brain metastases from breast cancer. Further studies are warranted to confirm the effect of this regimen on brain metastases.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Akira Yamauchi of Kitano Hospital (Osaka, Japan) for critically reviewing the manuscript.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Noriko Senda.

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Senda, N., Yamaguchi, A., Nishimura, H. et al. Pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel reduced the recurrence of brain metastasis from breast cancer: a case report. Breast Cancer 23, 323–328 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-015-0623-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-015-0623-x

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