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The New England Journal of Medicine Jul 2017Pertuzumab increases the rate of pathological complete response in the preoperative context and increases overall survival among patients with metastatic disease when it... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Pertuzumab increases the rate of pathological complete response in the preoperative context and increases overall survival among patients with metastatic disease when it is added to trastuzumab and chemotherapy for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. In this trial, we investigated whether pertuzumab, when added to adjuvant trastuzumab and chemotherapy, improves outcomes among patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer.
METHODS
We randomly assigned patients with node-positive or high-risk node-negative HER2-positive, operable breast cancer to receive either pertuzumab or placebo added to standard adjuvant chemotherapy plus 1 year of treatment with trastuzumab. We assumed a 3-year invasive-disease-free survival rate of 91.8% with pertuzumab and 89.2% with placebo.
RESULTS
In the trial population, 63% of the patients who were randomly assigned to receive pertuzumab (2400 patients) or placebo (2405 patients) had node-positive disease and 36% had hormone-receptor-negative disease. Disease recurrence occurred in 171 patients (7.1%) in the pertuzumab group and 210 patients (8.7%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 1.00; P=0.045). The estimates of the 3-year rates of invasive-disease-free survival were 94.1% in the pertuzumab group and 93.2% in the placebo group. In the cohort of patients with node-positive disease, the 3-year rate of invasive-disease-free survival was 92.0% in the pertuzumab group, as compared with 90.2% in the placebo group (hazard ratio for an invasive-disease event, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.96; P=0.02). In the cohort of patients with node-negative disease, the 3-year rate of invasive-disease-free survival was 97.5% in the pertuzumab group and 98.4% in the placebo group (hazard ratio for an invasive-disease event, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.68 to 1.86; P=0.64). Heart failure, cardiac death, and cardiac dysfunction were infrequent in both treatment groups. Diarrhea of grade 3 or higher occurred almost exclusively during chemotherapy and was more frequent with pertuzumab than with placebo (9.8% vs. 3.7%).
CONCLUSIONS
Pertuzumab significantly improved the rates of invasive-disease-free survival among patients with HER2-positive, operable breast cancer when it was added to trastuzumab and chemotherapy. Diarrhea was more common with pertuzumab than with placebo. (Funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche/Genentech; APHINITY ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01358877 .).
Topics: Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Diarrhea; Disease-Free Survival; Double-Blind Method; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Middle Aged; Receptor, ErbB-2; Survival Rate; Trastuzumab
PubMed: 28581356
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1703643 -
Chinese Clinical Oncology Jun 2020Neoadjuvant therapy has become a standard clinical practice to downsize the tumor and increase the breast-conserving rate. The addition of trastuzumab to neoadjuvant... (Review)
Review
Neoadjuvant therapy has become a standard clinical practice to downsize the tumor and increase the breast-conserving rate. The addition of trastuzumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy roughly doubles the proportion of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who achieve pathological complete response (pCR). Patients with pCR show better prognosis compared with those with residual disease after neoadjuvant therapy. Targeting the HER2 pathway with trastuzumab and pertuzumab can further increase the pCR rate. Several studies have shown that neoadjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab plus pertuzumab is tolerable, increases the pCR rate compared with trastuzumab alone, and results in about 50-70% pCR rate. One of the most important studies on neoadjuvant therapy is the KATHERINE trial, in which improved prognostic outcome for patients with residual disease after neoadjuvant therapy was observed. In the trial, improved invasive disease-free survival (DFS) was observed with the administration of postoperative trastuzumab emtansine in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who had residual disease after neoadjuvant therapy. The indication of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer may be changed because the opportunity for residual disease-guided approach, demonstrated in the KATHERINE trial, will be lost when patients had first undergone surgery. Translational studies are promising for further patient selection for HER2-targeted therapy and the development of a novel treatment strategy including PI3K-targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Feasibility studies to evaluate the ability of needle-biopsy to predict pCR after neoadjuvant therapy suggested that standardization and refinements in biopsy procedure (i.e., needle size, number of samples, etc.) are essential for the design of clinical trials of omitted surgery for patients with radiologic complete response.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Neoadjuvant Therapy
PubMed: 32527117
DOI: 10.21037/cco-20-123 -
Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official... May 2021APHINITY, at 45 months median follow-up, showed that pertuzumab added to adjuvant trastuzumab and chemotherapy significantly improved invasive disease-free survival... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
PURPOSE
APHINITY, at 45 months median follow-up, showed that pertuzumab added to adjuvant trastuzumab and chemotherapy significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) (hazard ratio 0.81 [95% CI, 0.66 to 1.00], = .045) for patients with early human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC), specifically those with node-positive or hormone receptor (HR)-negative disease. We now report the preplanned second interim overall survival (OS) and descriptive updated IDFS analysis with 74 months median follow-up.
METHODS
After surgery and central HER2-positive confirmation, 4,805 patients with node-positive or high-risk node-negative BC were randomly assigned (1:1) to either 1-year pertuzumab or placebo added to standard adjuvant chemotherapy and 1-year trastuzumab.
RESULTS
This interim OS analysis comparing pertuzumab versus placebo did not reach the = .0012 level required for statistical significance ( = .17, hazard ratio 0.85). Six-year OS were 95% versus 94% with 125 deaths (5.2%) versus 147 (6.1%), respectively. IDFS analysis based on 508 events (intent-to-treat population) showed a hazard ratio of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.91) and 6-year IDFS of 91% and 88% for pertuzumab and placebo groups, respectively. The node-positive cohort continues to derive clear IDFS benefit from pertuzumab (hazard ratio 0.72 [95% CI, 0.59 to 0.87]), 6-year IDFS being 88% and 83%, respectively. Benefit was not seen in the node-negative cohort. In a subset analysis, IDFS benefit from pertuzumab showed a hazard ratio of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.59 to 0.92) for HR-positive disease and a hazard ratio of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.63 to 1.10) for HR-negative disease. Primary cardiac events remain < 1% in both the treatment groups. No new safety signals were seen.
CONCLUSION
This analysis confirms the IDFS benefit from adding pertuzumab to standard adjuvant therapy for patients with node-positive HER2-positive early BC. Longer follow-up is needed to fully assess OS benefit.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Double-Blind Method; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Receptor, ErbB-2; Survival Rate; Trastuzumab
PubMed: 33539215
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.20.01204 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Feb 2015In patients with metastatic breast cancer that is positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), progression-free survival was significantly improved... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
In patients with metastatic breast cancer that is positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), progression-free survival was significantly improved after first-line therapy with pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel, as compared with placebo, trastuzumab, and docetaxel. Overall survival was significantly improved with pertuzumab in an interim analysis without the median being reached. We report final prespecified overall survival results with a median follow-up of 50 months.
METHODS
We randomly assigned patients with metastatic breast cancer who had not received previous chemotherapy or anti-HER2 therapy for their metastatic disease to receive the pertuzumab combination or the placebo combination. The secondary end points of overall survival, investigator-assessed progression-free survival, independently assessed duration of response, and safety are reported. Sensitivity analyses were adjusted for patients who crossed over from placebo to pertuzumab after the interim analysis.
RESULTS
The median overall survival was 56.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.3 to not reached) in the group receiving the pertuzumab combination, as compared with 40.8 months (95% CI, 35.8 to 48.3) in the group receiving the placebo combination (hazard ratio favoring the pertuzumab group, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.84; P<0.001), a difference of 15.7 months. This analysis was not adjusted for crossover to the pertuzumab group and is therefore conservative. Results of sensitivity analyses after adjustment for crossover were consistent. Median progression-free survival as assessed by investigators improved by 6.3 months in the pertuzumab group (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.80). Pertuzumab extended the median duration of response by 7.7 months, as independently assessed. Most adverse events occurred during the administration of docetaxel in the two groups, with long-term cardiac safety maintained.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, the addition of pertuzumab to trastuzumab and docetaxel, as compared with the addition of placebo, significantly improved the median overall survival to 56.5 months and extended the results of previous analyses showing the efficacy of this drug combination. (Funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche and Genentech; CLEOPATRA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00567190.).
Topics: Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Docetaxel; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Receptor, ErbB-2; Survival Analysis; Taxoids; Trastuzumab
PubMed: 25693012
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1413513 -
ESMO Open Feb 2022HER2-positive breast cancer represents 15%-20% of breast malignancies and is characterized by an aggressive behavior and high recurrence rates. Anti-HER2-directed agents... (Review)
Review
HER2-positive breast cancer represents 15%-20% of breast malignancies and is characterized by an aggressive behavior and high recurrence rates. Anti-HER2-directed agents represent the mainstay of treatment of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In this review we propose a treatment algorithm for patients with HER2-positive MBC based on the currently available literature on the topic. The combination of trastuzumab, pertuzumab and a taxane (THP) remains the preferred first-line therapy in most scenarios. Results of trials recently presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2021 might have direct clinical impact in the second- and later-line settings. The randomized DESTINY-BREAST03 study compared trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) with trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in patients previously treated with trastuzumab and a taxane. T-DXd significantly improved progression-free survival and showed a trend towards improved overall survival, establishing this agent as preferred second-line therapy. Treatment with T-DM1, or the combination of tucatinib, trastuzumab and capecitabine, are considered reasonable options after second-line therapy. For subsequent lines, trastuzumab duocarmazine, neratinib plus capecitabine or the continuation of trastuzumab with different chemotherapy partners are valid options. For patients experiencing disease relapse up to 6 months after completion of adjuvant therapy, as well as for those relapsing within 12 months from the completion of pertuzumab-based adjuvant treatment, we recommend T-DXd as preferred first-line option. For those relapsing between 6 and 12 months after non-pertuzumab-based adjuvant treatment, we recommend first-line THP. Finally, for patients with active brain metastasis, tucatinib-based combination represents a suitable second-line option.
Topics: Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Receptor, ErbB-2
PubMed: 34995893
DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2021.100343 -
JAMA Oncology Mar 2020Prospective assessment of treatments known to benefit patients in global clinical trials in specific racial groups is essential. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Pertuzumab, Trastuzumab, and Docetaxel for Patients With Early or Locally Advanced ERBB2-Positive Breast Cancer in Asia: The PEONY Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial.
IMPORTANCE
Prospective assessment of treatments known to benefit patients in global clinical trials in specific racial groups is essential.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of adding pertuzumab to trastuzumab and docetaxel vs placebo, trastuzumab, and docetaxel in Asian patients with ERBB2-positive early or locally advanced breast cancer.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial enrolled 329 women with ERBB2-positive early (T2-3, N0-1, M0) or locally advanced breast cancer (T2-3, N2 or N3, M0; T4, any N, M0) and primary tumor larger than 2 cm from March 14, 2016, to March 13, 2017. Analysis of the primary end point was performed on an intention-to-treat basis.
INTERVENTIONS
Before surgery, patients received 4 cycles of intravenous pertuzumab (840-mg loading dose and 420-mg maintenance doses), trastuzumab (8-mg/kg loading dose and 6-mg/kg maintenance doses), and docetaxel (75 mg/m2) or intravenous placebo, trastuzumab, and docetaxel every 3 weeks. After surgery, patients received 3 cycles of intravenous fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide followed by 13 cycles of the same intravenous anti-ERBB2 therapy (pertuzumab and trastuzumab or placebo and trastuzumab) for up to 1 year.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary end point was independent review committee-assessed total pathologic complete response rate. The 2-sided Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test, stratified by disease category and hormone receptor status, was used to compare rates between treatment groups.
RESULTS
In total, 329 female patients were randomized (pertuzumab, 219; and placebo, 110; mean [SD] age, 48.8 [9.5] years). In the intention-to-treat population, total pathologic complete response rates were 39.3% (86 of 219) in the pertuzumab group and 21.8% (24 of 110) in the placebo group (difference, 17.5% [95% CI, 6.9%-28.0%]; P = .001). Of the most common grade 3 or higher adverse events, there was a higher incidence of neutropenia in the pertuzumab group (83 of 218 [38.1%] vs 36 of 110 [32.7%]). Serious adverse events were reported in 10.1% of patients (22 of 218) in the pertuzumab group and 8.2% of patients (9 of 110) in the placebo group.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Treatment with pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel resulted in a statistically significant improvement in the total pathologic complete response rate vs placebo, trastuzumab, and docetaxel for the neoadjuvant treatment of ERBB2-positive early or locally advanced breast cancer in Asian patients. Safety data were in line with the known pertuzumab safety profile and generally comparable between treatment groups. The PEONY trial adds to the totality of data showing the benefit of the pertuzumab regimen.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02586025.
Topics: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Asia; Breast Neoplasms; Docetaxel; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Receptor, ErbB-2; Trastuzumab; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 31647503
DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.3692 -
The Lancet. Oncology Apr 2019Therapies targeting HER2 have improved clinical outcomes in HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers, and are emerging as potential treatments for HER2-positive...
Pertuzumab plus trastuzumab for HER2-amplified metastatic colorectal cancer (MyPathway): an updated report from a multicentre, open-label, phase 2a, multiple basket study.
BACKGROUND
Therapies targeting HER2 have improved clinical outcomes in HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers, and are emerging as potential treatments for HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer. MyPathway evaluates the activity of targeted therapies in non-indicated tumour types with potentially predictive molecular alterations. We aimed to assess the activity of pertuzumab and trastuzumab in patients with HER2-amplified metastatic colorectal cancer.
METHODS
MyPathway is an ongoing, phase 2a, multiple basket study. Patients in this subset analysis were aged 18 years or older and had treatment-refractory, histologically confirmed HER2-amplified metastatic colorectal cancer with measurable or evaluable disease and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 2 or less, enrolled from 25 hospitals or clinics in 16 states of the USA. Patients received pertuzumab (840 mg loading dose, then 420 mg every 3 weeks, intravenously) and trastuzumab (8 mg/kg loading dose, then 6 mg/kg every 3 weeks, intravenously). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved an objective response based on investigator-reported tumour responses. Analyses were done per protocol. This ongoing trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02091141.
FINDINGS
Between Oct 20, 2014, and June 22, 2017, 57 patients with HER2-amplified metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled in the MyPathway study and deemed eligible for inclusionin this cohort analysis. Among these 57 evaluable patients, as of Aug 1, 2017, one (2%) patient had a complete response and 17 (30%) had partial responses; thus overall 18 of 57 patients achieved an objective response (32%, 95% CI 20-45). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were diarrhoea (19 [33%] of 57 patients), fatigue (18 [32%] patients), and nausea (17 [30%] patients). Grade 3-4 treatment-emergent adverse events were recorded in 21 (37%) of 57 patients, most commonly hypokalaemia and abdominal pain (each three [5%] patients). Serious treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in ten (18%) patients and two (4%) of these adverse events (ie, chills and infusion-related reaction) were considered treatment related. There were no treatment-related deaths.
INTERPRETATION
Dual HER2-targeted therapy with pertuzumab plus trastuzumab is well tolerated and could represent a therapeutic opportunity for patients with heavily pretreated, HER2-amplified metastatic colorectal cancer.
FUNDING
F Hoffmann-La Roche/Genentech.
Topics: Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Colorectal Neoplasms; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Female; Gene Amplification; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Receptor, ErbB-2; Trastuzumab; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 30857956
DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(18)30904-5 -
Annals of Oncology : Official Journal... Mar 2018Anti-HER2 therapies are associated with a risk of increased cardiac toxicity, particularly when part of anthracycline-containing regimens. We report cardiac safety of...
Pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and standard anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy for the neoadjuvant treatment of patients with HER2-positive localized breast cancer (BERENICE): a phase II, open-label, multicenter, multinational cardiac safety study.
BACKGROUND
Anti-HER2 therapies are associated with a risk of increased cardiac toxicity, particularly when part of anthracycline-containing regimens. We report cardiac safety of pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
BERENICE (NCT02132949) is a nonrandomized, phase II, open-label, multicenter, multinational study in patients with normal cardiac function. In the neoadjuvant period, cohort A patients received four cycles of dose-dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, then 12 doses of standard paclitaxel plus four standard trastuzumab and pertuzumab cycles. Cohort B patients received four standard fluorouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide cycles, then four docetaxel cycles with four standard trastuzumab and pertuzumab cycles. The primary end point was cardiac safety during neoadjuvant treatment, assessed by the incidence of New York Heart Association class III/IV heart failure and of left ventricular ejection fraction declines (≥10 percentage-points from baseline and to a value of <50%). The main efficacy end point was pathologic complete response (pCR, ypT0/is ypN0). Results are descriptive.
RESULTS
Safety populations were 199 and 198 patients in cohorts A and B, respectively. Three patients [1.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31% to 4.34%] in cohort A experienced four New York Heart Association class III/IV heart failure events. Thirteen patients (6.5%; 95% CI 3.5% to 10.9%) in cohort A and four (2.0%; 95% CI 0.6% to 5.1%) in cohort B experienced at least one left ventricular ejection fraction decline. No new safety signals were identified. pCR rates were 61.8% and 60.7% in cohorts A and B, respectively. The highest pCR rates were in the HER2-enriched PAM50 subtype (75.0% and 73.7%, respectively).
CONCLUSION
Treatment with pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and common anthracycline-containing regimens for the neoadjuvant treatment of early breast cancer resulted in cardiac and general safety profiles, and pCR rates, consistent with prior studies with pertuzumab.
CLINICAL TRIAL INFORMATION
NCT02132949.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Anthracyclines; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Cardiotoxicity; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Female; Humans; Incidence; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Paclitaxel; Receptor, ErbB-2; Taxoids; Trastuzumab
PubMed: 29253081
DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdx773 -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... Jul 2021The aim of the study was to assess patient preference for the fixed-dose combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab for subcutaneous injection (PH FDC SC) in patients... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Preference for the fixed-dose combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab for subcutaneous injection in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer (PHranceSCa): A randomised, open-label phase II study.
AIM
The aim of the study was to assess patient preference for the fixed-dose combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab for subcutaneous injection (PH FDC SC) in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer in PHranceSCa (NCT03674112).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients who completed neoadjuvant P + H + chemotherapy + surgery were randomised 1:1 to three intravenous (IV) P + H cycles followed by three cycles of PH FDC SC or vice versa (crossover) and then chose subcutaneous (SC) injection or IV infusion to continue up to 18 cycles (continuation). Assessments were via patient and healthcare professional (HCP) questionnaires.
RESULTS
One hundred and sixty patients were randomised (cut-off: 24 February 2020); 136 (85.0%, 95% confidence interval: 78.5-90.2%) preferred SC; 22 (13.8%) preferred IV; 2 (1.3%) had no preference. The main reasons for SC preference were reduced clinic time (n = 119) and comfort during administration (n = 73). One hundred and forty-one patients (88.1%) were very satisfied/satisfied with SC injection versus 108 (67.5%) with IV infusion; 86.9% chose PH FDC SC continuation. HCP perceptions of median patient treatment room time ranged from 33.0-50.0 min with SC and 130.0-300.0 min with IV. Most adverse events (AEs) were grade 1/2 (no 4/5s); serious AE rates were low. AE rates before and after switching were similar (cycles 1-3 IV → cycles 4-6 SC: 77.5% → 72.5%; cycles 1-3 SC → cycles 4-6 IV: 77.5% → 63.8%).
CONCLUSION
Most patients strongly preferred PH FDC SC over P + H IV. PH FDC SC was generally well tolerated, with no new safety signals (even when switching), and offers a quicker alternative to IV infusion.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Cross-Over Studies; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Neoplasm Staging; Patient Preference; Patient Satisfaction; Receptor, ErbB-2; Trastuzumab; Young Adult
PubMed: 34147014
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.03.047