Fred C. Kass, MD, oncology/hematology, internal medicine, Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, discusses challenges associated with optimal treatment sequencing for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

The field of HER2-positive breast cancer is one which oncologists are gratified by the amount of treatments available to patients, Kass explains. There has been great success with adjuvant treatments, as well as personalized medicine.

However, the variation of treatments can be a drawback, as there is uncertainty on when and how to use all of the therapies. Therefore, Kass says, oncologists have not yet determined optimal treatment sequencing for HER2-positive breast cancer.

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Fred C. Kass, MD, oncology/hematology, internal medicine, Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, discusses challenges associated with optimal treatment sequencing for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.


Dr. Kass on Optimal Treatment Sequencing in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Fred C. Kass, MD, oncology/hematology, internal medicine, Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, gives advice for community-based oncologists regarding HER2 testing and interpretation of the results.

Kass explains that fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is preferred in the oncology community versus immunohistochemistry (IHC)upfront. IHC is only used first, he adds, when the FISH results are unequivocal. If both FISH and IHC results are equivocal, then oncologists send specimens to a reference lab.

Oncologists concur that testing patients with FISH first is more reliable method, Kass says.

Fred C. Kass, MD, oncology/hematology, internal medicine, Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, gives advice for community-based oncologists regarding HER2 testing and interpretation of the results. 


Fred C. Kass, MD

Articles

Dr. Kass on Optimal Treatment Sequencing in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Dr. Kass on Testing for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer