biostudies-literatureUnknown11(1)Yuan Y<h4>Introduction</h4>Trastuzumab, as the gold standard for HER2-positive BC treatment, was the first-line HER2 targeted drug. However, some studies reported patients benefited more from lapatinib and lapatinib plus trastuzumab therapy than standard trastuzumab therapy. This study presents an update of a systematic review and meta-analysis involving comparison of lapatinib and lapatinib plus trastuzumab therapy versus trastuzumab therapy.<h4>Aim</h4>We determined whether trastuzumab plus lapatinib or lapatinib therapy is not inferior to trastuzumab therapy in HER2-positive breast cancer patients.<h4>Methods</h4>Relevant trials were searched in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Sinomed, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases from inception until October 25, 2021. Primary outcomes were OS, DFS/EFS, and PFS while secondary outcomes were pCR (ypT0/is ypN0), pCR (ypT0/is ypN0/+), ORR, DCR, rate of BCS, RFS, cardiac toxicities, and other toxicities.<h4>Results</h4>Thirteen randomized controlled trials were included in this study. Trastuzumab combined with lapatinib therapy was found to be superior to standard trastuzumab therapy alone with regard to overall survival, disease-free survival/event-free survival, pathologic complete response (ypT0/is ypN0), pathologic complete response (ypT0/is ypN0/+), recurrence-free survival, higher incidences of diarrhea, and rash/skin toxicity. Lapatinib therapy was established to be inferior to trastuzumab therapy in overall survival, progression-free survival, disease-free survival/event-free survival, pathologic complete response (ypT0/is ypN0) and pathologic complete response (ypT0/is ypN0/+), diarrhea, and rash/skin toxicity and had a low incidence of left ventricular ejection fraction decline.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The efficacy of trastuzumab combined with lapatinib therapy is superior to standard trastuzumab therapy alone; however, it has more non-cardiac grade III/IV toxicities. Moreover, the efficacy of lapatinib therapy is inferior to that of standard trastuzumab therapy alone.Systematic reviews264https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9738024biostudies-literatureLapatinib and lapatinib plus trastuzumab therapy versus trastuzumab therapy for HER2 positive breast cancer patients: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.PMC9738024Liu XLi WCai YYuan YfalseLapatinib and lapatinib plus trastuzumab therapy versus trastuzumab therapy for HER2 positive breast cancer patients: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.<h4>Introduction</h4>Trastuzumab, as the gold standard for HER2-positive BC treatment, was the first-line HER2 targeted drug. However, some studies reported patients benefited more from lapatinib and lapatinib plus trastuzumab therapy than standard trastuzumab therapy. This study presents an update of a systematic review and meta-analysis involving comparison of lapatinib and lapatinib plus trastuzumab therapy versus trastuzumab therapy.<h4>Aim</h4>We determined whether trastuzumab plus lapatinib or lapatinib therapy is not inferior to trastuzumab therapy in HER2-positive breast cancer patients.<h4>Methods</h4>Relevant trials were searched in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Sinomed, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases from inception until October 25, 2021. Primary outcomes were OS, DFS/EFS, and PFS while secondary outcomes were pCR (ypT0/is ypN0), pCR (ypT0/is ypN0/+), ORR, DCR, rate of BCS, RFS, cardiac toxicities, and other toxicities.<h4>Results</h4>Thirteen randomized controlled trials were included in this study. Trastuzumab combined with lapatinib therapy was found to be superior to standard trastuzumab therapy alone with regard to overall survival, disease-free survival/event-free survival, pathologic complete response (ypT0/is ypN0), pathologic complete response (ypT0/is ypN0/+), recurrence-free survival, higher incidences of diarrhea, and rash/skin toxicity. Lapatinib therapy was established to be inferior to trastuzumab therapy in overall survival, progression-free survival, disease-free survival/event-free survival, pathologic complete response (ypT0/is ypN0) and pathologic complete response (ypT0/is ypN0/+), diarrhea, and rash/skin toxicity and had a low incidence of left ventricular ejection fraction decline.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The efficacy of trastuzumab combined with lapatinib therapy is superior to standard trastuzumab therapy alone; however, it has more non-cardiac grade III/IV toxicities. Moreover, the efficacy of lapatinib therapy is inferior to that of standard trastuzumab therapy alone.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Dec2025-04-19T06:39:56.288Z2025-04-19T06:39:56.288ZS-EPMC97380243649647310.1186/s13643-022-02134-9