The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7245 p536
19 April 2003

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UK lags behind in HER2 testing

In the United Kingdom, less than half of women with breast cancer are tested for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), a survey commissioned by Roche has shown.

Testing HER2 levels helps establish eligibility for treatment with trastuzumab (Herceptin), a drug made by Roche and licensed for use in women with HER2-positive breast cancer. The survey shows that, at 45 per cent, current UK testing rates are lower than those in other Western countries, with Germany, Italy and Spain all testing over 70 per cent of women with breast cancer for HER2.