JAKARTA - The development of breast cancer treatment provides hope for patients to be able to get effective, safe and comfortable treatment, have the opportunity to recover and improve their quality of life.
One of the revolutionary developments was in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer, which combines two monoclonal antibodies (pertuzumab and trastuzumab) with hyaluronidase enzymes in one injection that have clinical and safety benefits comparable to those given through infusion.
This innovation will be discussed in Roche Oncology Summit, July 22-23, 2023 in Jakarta, an event that presents experts in cancer management and discusses research results, as well as breakthroughs in cancer management.
Oncologist, DR. Dr. Andhika Rachman, SpPD-KHOM, FINASIM explained, [the development of HER2-positive breast cancer treatment gives hope to patients. Combining two monoclonal antibodies (pertuzumab and trastuzumab) with hyaluronidase enzymes in one injection is a revolutionary breakthrough.
"In addition to having clinical and safety benefits comparable to the drugs given through infusion, injections that take only 8 minutes for the first injection and 5 minutes at the next injection. This is shorter than the provision of Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab infusions which take up to 150 minutes. The combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab in one injection is intended for patients with positive HER2 breast cancer in the early stages and metastatic stages and to be used together with chemotherapy treatment," he explained in Jakarta, Friday, July 21.
Breast cancer is still a threat to women around the world. In Indonesia, breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women and is the highest cause of death from cancer in Indonesian women, which is 21.4 percent. One of the types of breast cancer that is malignant and spreads faster is HER2-positive breast cancer.
HER2-positive breast cancer is a type of breast cancer where the patient tested positive for protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). One in five breast cancer patients including HER2-positive.
DR. Dr. Andhika Rachman, SpPD-KHOM, FINASIM explained, HER2 (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2) is a protein found on the surface of cells that functions for the growth and spread of cells. If the number of HER2 is too much it can result in rapid and uncontrolled cell growth.
"In positive HER2 cancer cells, cancer cells become more aggressive and spread quickly. Positive HER2 cancer is found in 15-20 percent of breast cancer and has poor prognosis (disease travel). Early detection and proper treatment of positive HER2 breast cancer are very important to maximize its treatment," he explained.
Based on the PHranceSca study, 85 percent of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer prefer injection therapy for pertuzumab +trastuzumab with a fixed dose compared to pertuzumab +trastuzumab infusion, because they feel more comfortable during drug administration and time-efficient, even though injections are slightly more painful.
This innovative treatment is also beneficial for health workers because it reduces treatment time because it is given without reconstitution, without solubility, without adjusting/calculation of doses according to patient weight and without access to infusion lines such as chemoports.
Chairman of the Indonesia Health Economic Association, InaHEA, as well as a pharmacoeconomic observer, Prof. dr. Hasbullah Thabrany, MPH, DrPH said that limited health resources demanded various savings efforts so that more patients could be served in quality.
He further explained that the presence of this innovative treatment is very profitable for patients, health workers and hospitals. From the hospital side, treatment through injection can save resources with reduced patient handling time of up to 90 percent and more efficient use of treatment facilities. Patients economically also benefit from the availability of this drug in Indonesia so that there is no need to seek treatment abroad.
Meanwhile, Access, Comms & Health System Value Strategy Director of Roche Indonesia, Lucia Enniawati emphasized Roche's commitment to continue to innovate to answer the health needs of patients who have not been met.
"We in Roche are committed to changing the lives of breast cancer patients. Innovation of this treatment is one of the important steps to redefine the standard of patient management with HER2-positive breast cancer that can be given quickly, comfortably, and efficiently," he said.
On the same occasion, the three resource persons called for the importance of cooperation between various stakeholders to strive so that innovation in the administration of breast cancer can be accessed by patients in Indonesia more widely through the health insurance system.
"We are committed to collaborating with the Government and other stakeholders, so that innovation in cancer management can be accessed by patients in Indonesia so that patients can get better results and their quality of life increases," concluded Lucia.
For more than 30 years Roche has been a leading company in research and development of drugs working on the HER2 line. Roche is committed to improving the health, quality of life and patient life, both in early-stage and advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. Roche has previously developed three innovative drugs that have changed the standard for treating HER2-positive breast cancer, namely trastuzumab, pertuzumab and emtansine trastuzumab.
The latest innovation from Roche is a combination of pertuzumab+trastuzumab which is given in the form of a single injection. To determine whether a patient needs a drug that targets HER2 to be determined through a series of examinations that identify whether a patient can benefit from drugs in managing his cancer.
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