Trastuzumab for gastric cancer treatment.

摘要

The Comment by Alastair Munro and Paddy Niblock (Aug 28, p 659) on the ToGA trial elegantly highlights the economic effect of high-cost drugs. However, several important points are not discussed. Munro and Niblock note that the addition of trastuzumab does not save lives, yet ToGA was a study of palliative chemotherapy, for which treatment goals are symptom control, extension of life, and maintenance of quality of life, which were arguably achieved. Trastuzumab is routinely prescribed for advanced breast cancer despite failing to save lives. However, an improvement in 3-year survival was shown in the adjuvant setting, therefore assessment of trastuzumab in the (neo)adjuvant treatment of operable gastro-oesophageal cancer is vital.