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Breast Cancer Drug Herceptin Linked to Heart Damage

August 15, 2006

New research is showing that Herceptin - a widely used breast cancer drug - increases the risk of a cardiac event, including heart failure.

Researchers at the Anderson Cancer Center in Houston followed 173 women with metastatic breast cancer who took Herceptin for an average of 32 months. Forty-nine patients, or 28 percent, experienced some kind of heart problem.

Dr. Francisco J. Esteva, who directed the study, said that the damage is for the most part reversible. However, some patients who use Herceptin may experience lingering problems.

The report, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology , revealed that in addition to the few patients who had persistent problems after using Herceptin, one patient died of congestive heart failure.

The study highlights the need for close monitoring of patients taking Herceptin. Further, women who have a history of heart failure or other cardiac problems should avoid taking the drug altogether.

"It's prudent to be very careful in administering these drugs," said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology and oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge.

Esteva added, "We advise every patient to have a baseline cardiac assessment before starting treatment and be followed by a cardiologist who is familiar with this."

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