Herceptin increased the incidence of congestive heart failure by 146% compared to control in patients receiving HER2-targeted treatment for breast cancer.
Does trastuzumab increase the risk of cardiomyopathy and other toxicities in adults with HER2-overexpressing breast or gastric cancer?
Trastuzumab carries a boxed warning for cardiomyopathy, especially when combined with anthracyclines, necessitating routine LVEF monitoring prior to and during treatment.
Effect estimate: RR 2.46 (95% CI 1.33-4.53)
Absolute Event Rate: 3.2% vs 1.3%
p-value: p=0.003
Improved risk stratification of patients during HER2-targeted therapy and effective prevention and management strategies for cardiotoxicity are needed to enhance the value of longitudinal cardiac monitoring and increase cardiac safety so that optimal breast cancer treatment can be delivered.
Copeland-Halperin et al. (Mon,) conducted a other in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer and metastatic gastric cancer (n=5,678). Herceptin (trastuzumab) vs. Control group receiving chemotherapy without Herceptin was evaluated on Incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) in HER2-targeted therapy versus controls (RR 2.46, 95% CI 1.33-4.53, p=0.003). Herceptin increased the incidence of congestive heart failure by 146% compared to control in patients receiving HER2-targeted treatment for breast cancer.