A Case of Long Term Survival in Woman with Metastatic Breast Cancer Treated with Trastuzumab

Intravenous Trastuzumab is an effective treatment for metastatic breast cancer after failure of first- line chemotherapy for patients with human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER- 2) - positive receptor. The aim of this study is to present of case of long time survival woman with metastatic breast cancer. The case is a 55- years old female. She underwent left mastectomy with axillary lymphadenectomy for breast cancer. Histological examination showed invasive ductal carcinoma, grade III, estrogen and progesterone receptor- negative, HER2- positive receptor status. Radiotherapy and six courses with antracyclines were performed as adjuvant chemotherapy. One year after the operation she was diagnosed to have lung metastases. Treatment was initiated with Trastuzumab 8 mg/kg for loading dose and 4 mg/kg maintenance dose every week. Treatment was continued for more than two years. Control computer tomography indicates stable disease. No adverse events were reported for twenty four months of Trastuzumab treatment. Treatment was stopped due to patients withdrawn. Overall survival was 31 months. This case indicate that long term Trastuzumab would be an optimal treatment for HER2- positive breast cancer patients.