Tumor therapy with an antibody for vascular endothelial growth factor and an antibody for human epithelial growth factor receptor type 2

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of treating a breast cancer disease in a patient who has failed prior treatment with an anti-VEGF antibody, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-HER2 antibody while continuing said anti-VEGF antibody therapy. The invention also provides corresponding pharmaceutical kits and pharmaceutical compositions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combined therapy method of treating a breast cancer disease, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-HER2 antibody and an anti-VEGF antibody wherein the breast cancer disease is characterized by an overexpression of the HER2 receptor protein. 
     
     
         2 . A method of treating a breast cancer disease in a patient who has failed prior therapy with an anti-VEGF antibody, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-HER2 antibody and an anti-VEGF antibody. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the anti-VEGF antibody is bevacizumab. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the patient is human. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the anti-HER2 antibody is trastuzumab. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the breast cancer disease is characterized by an overexpression of the HER2 receptor protein. 
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical kit comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-VEGF antibody, a pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-HE2 antibody, and a package insert instructing the user of said compositions to administer to a patient having breast cancer disease, who has failed prior therapy with an anti-VEGF antibody, said anti-VEGF antibody pharmaceutical composition and said anti-HER2 antibody pharmaceutical composition, wherein the anti-VEGF antibody pharmaceutical composition and the anti-HER2 antibody pharmaceutical composition are packaged either in a single container or in two separate containers. 
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical kit of  claim 7  wherein the anti-VEGF antibody is bevacizumab. 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical kit of  claim 7  wherein the anti-HER2 antibody is trastuzumab. 
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-HER2 antibody and an anti-VEGF antibody useful in the treatment of a breast cancer disease in a patient which has failed prior therapy with an anti-VEGF antibody. 
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , wherein the anti-VEGF antibody is bevacizumab and the anti-HER2 antibody is trastuzumab.