Research table: Pertuzumab (Perjeta) for metastatic breast cancer treatment
This summary table contains detailed information about research studies. Summary tables are a useful way to look at the science behind many breast cancer guidelines and recommendations. However, to get the most out of the tables, it’s important to understand some key concepts. Learn how to read a research table. |
Introduction: About 10% to 20% of newly diagnosed breast cancers are HER2-positive [1-2]. HER2-positive tumors have a lot of the protein called HER2 on the surface of the cancer cells.
The drugs pertuzumab (Perjeta) and trastuzumab (Herceptin) target HER2-positive cancer cells.
Pertuzumab is always given with trastuzumab. Pertuzumab in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy can slow the growth of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer and increase survival better than trastuzumab and chemotherapy alone [3].
Learn more about pertuzumab (including side effects) and metastatic breast cancer treatment.
Learn about pertuzumab and early breast cancer treatment.
Study selection criteria: Randomized clinical trials with 300 or more participants with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
Study | Study Population | Drug(s) Used | Overall Response Rate—Percent who Responded to Treatment | Overall Survival |
Phase III clinical trials | ||||
CLEOPATRA study [4-7] | 808 | Pertuzumab and trastuzumab with chemotherapy | 69% | 94% |
|
| Trastuzumab with chemotherapy | 80% | 89% |
PHEREXA study [8] | 452 | Pertuzumab and trastuzumab with chemotherapy | 41% | 90%† |
| Trastuzumab with chemotherapy | 33% | 85%† | |
CI = Confidence interval
NS = The overall response rate in the pertuzumab + trastuzumab + chemotherapy group was not statistically significant from the overall response rate in the trastuzumab + chemotherapy group.
* Estimated survival at one year. Estimated 4-year survival was 58% for the pertuzumab + trastuzumab + docetaxel group and 45% for the trastuzumab + docetaxel group. Estimated 8-year survival was 37% for the pertuzumab + trastuzumab + docetaxel group and 23% for the trastuzumab + docetaxel group.
† Estimated survival at 10 months.
References
- Rakha EA, Pinder SE, Bartlett JM, et al. for the National Coordinating Committee for Breast Pathology. Updated UK recommendations for HER2 assessment in breast cancer. J Clin Pathol. 68(2):93-9, 2015.
- Joe BN. Clinical features, diagnosis, and staging of newly diagnosed breast cancer. In: UpToDate. Burstein H, Vora SR (eds.). Waltham, MA: UpToDate, 2024.
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: breast cancer. V.4.2024. http://www.nccn.org, 2024.
- Baselga J, Cortés J, Kim SB, et al. for the CLEOPATRA Study Group. Pertuzumab plus trastuzumab plus docetaxel for metastatic breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 366(2):109-19, 2012.
- Swain SM, Kim SB, Cortés J, et al on behalf of the CLEOPATRA Study Group. Pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (CLEOPATRA study): overall survival results from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study. Lancet Oncol. 14(6):461-71, 2013.
- Swain SM, Baselga J, Kim SB, et al. for the CLEOPATRA Study Group. Pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 372(8):724-734, 2015.
- Swain SM, Miles D, Kim SB, et al. for the CLEOPATRA study group. Pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (CLEOPATRA): end-of-study results from a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study. Lancet Oncol. 21(4):519-530, 2020.
- Urruticoechea A, Rizwanullah M, Im SA, et al. Randomized phase III trial of trastuzumab plus capecitabine with or without pertuzumab in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer who experienced disease progression during or after trastuzumab-based therapy. J Clin Oncol. 35(26):3030-3038, 2017.
Updated 08/09/24