A woman with HER2-positive early breast cancer has completed chemotherapy with concurrent trastuzumab and has achieved pathological complete response at surgery. According to current standard practice established by the HERA trial, what total duration of adjuvant trastuzumab is recommended?
- A 6 months
- B 1 year ✓
- C 18 months
- D 2 years
Correct answer: B. 1 year
Explanation
The HERA trial demonstrated that one year of adjuvant trastuzumab improves disease-free and overall survival in HER2-positive early breast cancer, and one year remains the accepted standard. Both six months (PERSEPHONE) and two years were tested against twelve months and showed inferior or equivalent outcomes without advantage, so shorter or longer courses did not become standard practice. Treatment is given concurrently with taxane-based chemotherapy and continued to complete twelve months.
Reference: Katzung's Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 16th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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