Healthy Skepticism Library item: 2758

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Publication type: news

Noble T.
Experts fall out over breast cancer drug
The Age (Melbourne) 2005 Nov 11
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/experts-fall-out-over-breast-cancer-drug/2005/11/10/1131578172446.html

Keywords:
herceptin breast cancer

Notes:

Ralph Faggotter’s Comments:

It may be many years before the dust settles around Herceptin and its true value and role in treating breast cancer becomes clear.

But inevitably , it appears, the issue will become politicised.

Full text:

Experts fall out over breast cancer drug

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/experts-fall-out-over-breast-cancer-drug/2005/11/10/1131578172446.html
By Tom Noble
November 11, 2005

TWO of the world’s most influential medical journals have fallen out
over a drug regarded by some as the most important cancer treatment in
years.

British-based The Lancet yesterday attacked America’s New England
Journal of Medicine over claims that breast cancer drug Herceptin could
be a cure for the disease.

In an online editorial, The Lancet said debate on Herceptin’s ability to
fight early breast cancer required caution. “The excitement is
premature,” it said.

In Australia, doctors and medical groups such as the Cancer Council have
pushed for Herceptin to be available with government subsidy to women
with early-stage breast cancer. Without subsidy the treatment costs
about $60,000 a year.

The subsidised drug is available only to women whose cancer has spread.
Roche, Herceptin’s manufacturer, has applied to have it listed on the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for early stage cancer.

Health Minister Tony Abbott has been strongly criticised for not making
Herceptin available to all breast cancer patients. His office yesterday
emailed the editorial to journalists.

The Lancet criticised claims in the New England Journal of Medicine last
month that results of a Herceptin trial were “simply stunning”,
“revolutionary” and “maybe even a cure”.

“The best that can be said about Herceptin’s efficacy and safety for the
treatment of early breast cancer is that the available evidence is
insufficient to make reliable judgements,” The Lancet said.

“It is profoundly misleading to suggest, even rhetorically, that the
published data may be indicative of a cure for breast cancer.”

It said results omitted key information including disease-free survival
data and toxicity, including heart failure.

Any decision to supply the drugs for patients should be based on
evidence, irrespective of pressure from external groups, however well
meaning they are, the journal said.
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