Author(s): Ali Akhavan, Fariba Binesh, Somaye Sadat Hoseini-Dezki, Seyed Mohammad Reza Mortazavizadeh
Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer that affects women. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a gene that plays a significant role in the development of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the survival of HER2- positive breast cancer patients who received Herceptin with those who did not receive it in Yazd, Iran. Materials and Methods: Our study was an analytical cross-sectional study. Sampling was done on all patients with HER2-positive invasive ductal carcinoma (HER2 positive) who were referred to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital or Shahid Ramezanzadeh Hospital from 2003 to 2014. The data were collected using a questionnaire, which included questions on age, type of tumor, tumor grade, recurrence history, tumor size, number of lymph nodes, and whethr Hercepin was received or not received. Data were then entered into SPSS version 18 and analyzed by statistical tests. Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.78 � 10.75 years. The mean survival time was 61.61 � 2.93 months, and the mean recurrence time was 104.104 � 41.3 months. The results also showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups, despite the higher mean survival time and less recurrence time in patients receiving Herceptin compared with those who did not receive Herceptin (P>0.05). Conclusions: According to the results of this study, the efficacy of Herceptin as a neoadjuvant treatment in the survival of HER2-positive breast cancer patients has not been established.