Trastuzumab for early breast cancer raises important issues

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7523.1023-a

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Edward C F Wilson, research associate (ed.wilson@uea.ac.uk)

Health Economics Group, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ

EDITOR—The government's recent announcement that all early stage breast cancer patients are tobe tested for HER2 overexpression with a view to receiving trastuzumab (Herceptin) will no doubt be a great relief to both patients and oncologists1.

However, this raises several important issues.

Firstly, the government may be setting a dangerous precedent in effectively promoting off-licence indications …