Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd....announced that it obtained approval from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for the anti-HER2 humanized monoclonal antibody Herceptin® Injection 60 and 150 [generic name: trastuzumab] for the additional indication of advanced or recurrent HER2-positive salivary gland cancer not amenable to curative resection.

…HER2 positivity has also been found in some advanced salivary gland tumors. It is recommended that these patients receive a HER2-targeted treatment option such as trastuzumab…

Our data show encouraging efficacy of trastuzumab plus docetaxel therapy in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive SDC, with a manageable toxicity profile.

Results of this study showed an improved disease-free and overall survival in patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab for high-risk salivary gland cancers with strong HER-2/neu staining intensity.

We present a case of a patient who suffered from metastatic SDC that was positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) and attained complete objective response, as seen on PET-CT after combined treatment with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab.

He underwent right nephrectomy with a pathological diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma of unclassified histology. The tumor was tested for Her2/neu, which was strongly positive, +3 by IHC. Then, the patient was started on weekly trastuzumab (4 mg/kg loading dose, then 2 mg/kg maintenance) and paclitaxel 80 mg/m2. Three months later, repeated scanning showed continuous response to therapy.