IMPAKT: Neratinib for metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer

May 12, 2010

Combining a novel anti-HER2 agent neratinib with paclitaxel (Taxol®) or vinorelbine (Navelbine®) may be a promising intervention for patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, according to results presented at the IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference in Brussels, Belgium.  Researchers presented results from several phase I and II trials of neratinib combination therapy in metastatic HER2-positive patients.  In a phase I/II trial, 69 out of 102 metastatic HER2-positive patients had a clinical response with neratinib and paclitaxel combination therapy.  In other studies, combining neratinib with vinorelbine led to an overall response rate ranging from 25% to 43% in metastatic HER2-positive patients.  Neratinib blocks signaling of the ErbB1, -2, and -4 receptors, whereas trastuzumab (Herceptin®) blocks ErbB1 and lapatinib (Tykerb®) blocks ErbB1 and -2.  Neratinib may be a novel option for HER2-positive patients who are not responding to trastuzumab or lapatinib.  But these results should be considered preliminary.  Phase III clinical trials will be needed to fully assess the efficacy of neratinib-based therapy.