Trastuzumab treatment in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma overexpressing HER2/neu

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2008 Aug;102(2):128-31. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2008.04.008. Epub 2008 Jun 16.

Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of trastuzumab in patients with progressive or recurrent metastatic endometrial carcinoma shown by immunohistochemistry to overexpress the HER2/neu receptor.

Methods: Disease progression was examined in 2 patients who met the study criteria, had c-erbB2 gene amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and were treated with trastuzumab following radiation treatment and/or salvage chemotherapy.

Results: The clinical responses to trastuzumab as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy were confirmed in both patients by serial CT scans and serum CA-125 evaluations. These patients with progressive or recurrent metastatic disease experienced relief from their symptoms and prolonged survival with no significant toxicity observed.

Conclusion: Trastuzumab may be a viable therapeutic option as single agent or in combination with chemotherapy in patients with advanced, recurrent, and/or metastatic endometrial carcinomas overexpressing HER2/neu.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CA-125 Antigen / blood
  • Disease Progression
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / blood
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genes, erbB-2 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / blood
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / metabolism*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Trastuzumab

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CA-125 Antigen
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab