Systemic control and encephalic response with lapatinib plus capecitabine as second-line therapy in HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer : Controllo sistemico e risposta encefalica con lapatinib più capecitabina in II linea di terapia nel carcinoma mammario HER2-positivo, metastatico

Abstract

Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) oncoprotein in breast cancer patients, is one of the biological characteristics of the disease that determines the choice of appropriate systemic treatment. We report the case of a 41-year-old woman, with relapsing HER2-positive breast cancer in cerebral and pulmonary cells. The patient underwent multimodal first Iine treatment including pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel and panencephalic radiotherapy with good response and progression-free survival for approximately 16 months. Subsequently, further to a encephalic progression of the disease, the patient was treated in second line with the combination lapatinib + capecitabine which induced further encephalic response and disease control for additional 20 months (Oncology).