Author
U. Nitz
Other affiliations: Bethesda Hospital
Bio: U. Nitz is an academic researcher from University of Düsseldorf. The author has contributed to research in topics: Breast cancer & Medicine. The author has an hindex of 14, co-authored 73 publications receiving 5826 citations. Previous affiliations of U. Nitz include Bethesda Hospital.
Topics: Breast cancer, Medicine, Internal medicine, Oncology, Chemotherapy
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
More filters
McGill University1, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich2, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust3, Autonomous University of Barcelona4, Geelong Hospital5, University of Marburg6, University of Edinburgh7, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul8, National Taiwan University9, University of Copenhagen10, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center11, Russian Academy12, University of Düsseldorf13, University of Hamburg14, University of British Columbia15, University of Bern16, Hoffmann-La Roche17, Université libre de Bruxelles18, Harvard University19
TL;DR: One year of treatment with trastuzumab after adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improves disease-free survival among women with HER2-positive breast cancer.
Abstract: background Trastuzumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody against HER2, has clinical activity in advanced breast cancer that overexpresses HER2. We investigated its efficacy and safety after excision of early-stage breast cancer and completion of chemotherapy. methods This international, multicenter, randomized trial compared one or two years of trastuzumab given every three weeks with observation in patients with HER2-positive and either node-negative or node-positive breast cancer who had completed locoregional therapy and at least four cycles of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. results Data were available for 1694 women randomly assigned to two years of treatment with trastuzumab, 1694 women assigned to one year of trastuzumab, and 1693 women assigned to observation. We report here the results only of treatment with trastuzumab for one year or observation. At the first planned interim analysis (median follow-up of one year), 347 events (recurrence of breast cancer, contralateral breast cancer, second nonbreast malignant disease, or death) were observed: 127 events in the trastuzumab group and 220 in the observation group. The unadjusted hazard ratio for an event in the trastuzumab group, as compared with the observation group, was 0.54 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.67; P<0.0001 by the log-rank test, crossing the interim analysis boundary), representing an absolute benefit in terms of disease-free survival at two years of 8.4 percentage points. Overall survival in the two groups was not significantly different (29 deaths with trastuzumab vs. 37 with observation). Severe cardiotoxicity developed in 0.5 percent of the women who were treated with trastuzumab. conclusions One year of treatment with trastuzumab after adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improves disease-free survival among women with HER2-positive breast cancer. (clinicaltrials.gov number, NCT 00045032.)
4,815 citations
TL;DR: Triple-negative breast cancer is defined by a lack of expression of both estrogen and progesterone receptor as well as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, characterized by distinct molecular, histological and clinical features including a particularly unfavorable prognosis despite increased sensitivity to standard cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens.
563 citations
TL;DR: T-DM1 is particularly effective in eliciting antitumor immunity in patients with early breast cancer and in a HER2-expressing orthotopic tumor model, and it is shown that it can be used in combination therapy.
Abstract: Targeted drug delivery with antibody-drug conjugates such as the HER2-directed ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) has emerged as a powerful strategy for cancer therapy. We show that T-DM1 is particularly effective in eliciting antitumor immunity in patients with early breast cancer (WSG-ADAPT trial) and in a HER2-expressing orthotopic tumor model. In the latter, despite primary resistance to immunotherapy, combined treatment with T-DM1 and anti-CTLA-4/PD-1 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein-4/programmed cell death protein-1) was curative because it triggered innate and adaptive immunity. Tumor rejection was accompanied by massive T cell infiltration, TH1 (T helper 1) cell polarization, and, notably, a substantial increase in regulatory T cells. Depletion of regulatory T cells resulted in inflammation and tissue damage, implying their essential role in protecting the host during therapy. This study provides insights into the mechanisms of T-DM1's therapeutic activity and a rationale for potential therapeutic combination strategies with immunotherapy.
258 citations
TL;DR: Tandem HD improves both EFS and OS in HRBC, and this therapy effect may be partly attributable to superior efficacy in the subgroup of triple-negative tumors and/or G3 with their poor prognostic marker profile.
105 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, an interim analysis after 15 months' accrual of the prospectively randomized German Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynakologische Onkologie (AGO) study is presented.
67 citations
Cited by
More filters
TL;DR: Trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy can be considered as a new standard option for patients with HER2-positive advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction cancer.
5,679 citations
TL;DR: A testing algorithm that relies on accurate, reproducible assay performance, including newly available types of brightfield ISH, is proposed and strongly recommends validation of laboratory assay or modifications, use of standardized operating procedures, and compliance with new testing criteria to be monitored.
Abstract: Purpose To develop a guideline to improve the accuracy of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing in invasive breast cancer and its utility as a predictive marker. Methods The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the College of American Pathologists convened an expert panel, which conducted a systematic review of the literature and developed recommendations for optimal HER2 testing performance. The guideline was reviewed by selected experts and approved by the board of directors for both organizations. Results Approximately 20% of current HER2 testing may be inaccurate. When carefully validated testing is performed, available data do not clearly demonstrate the superiority of either immunohistochemistry (IHC) or in situ hybridization (ISH) as a predictor of benefit from anti-HER2 therapy. Recommendations The panel recommends that HER2 status should be determined for all invasive breast cancer. A testing algorithm that relies on accurate, reproducible assay performance, including newly...
4,560 citations
TL;DR: Broad treatment recommendations are presented, recognizing that detailed treatment decisions need to consider disease extent, host factors, patient preferences, and social and economic constraints.
3,160 citations
TL;DR: Lapatinib plus capecitabine is superior to cape citabine alone in women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that has progressed after treatment with regimens that included an anthracycline, a taxane, and trastuzumab.
Abstract: A b s t r ac t The interim analysis of time to progression met specified criteria for early reporting on the basis of superiority in the combination-therapy group. The hazard ratio for the independently assessed time to progression was 0.49 (95% confidence interval, 0.34 to 0.71; P<0.001), with 49 events in the combination-therapy group and 72 events in the monotherapy group. The median time to progression was 8.4 months in the combination-therapy group as compared with 4.4 months in the monotherapy group. This improvement was achieved without an increase in serious toxic effects or symptomatic cardiac events. Conclusions Lapatinib plus capecitabine is superior to capecitabine alone in women with HER2- positive advanced breast cancer that has progressed after treatment with regimens that included an anthracycline, a taxane, and trastuzumab. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00078572.)
3,149 citations
TL;DR: Clinical studies are beginning to define these factors as immune profiles that can predict responses to immunotherapy, suggesting that a broader view of cancer immunity is required.
Abstract: Immunotherapy is proving to be an effective therapeutic approach in a variety of cancers. But despite the clinical success of antibodies against the immune regulators CTLA4 and PD-L1/PD-1, only a subset of people exhibit durable responses, suggesting that a broader view of cancer immunity is required. Immunity is influenced by a complex set of tumour, host and environmental factors that govern the strength and timing of the anticancer response. Clinical studies are beginning to define these factors as immune profiles that can predict responses to immunotherapy. In the context of the cancer-immunity cycle, such factors combine to represent the inherent immunological status - or 'cancer-immune set point' - of an individual.
3,145 citations