Abstract:Objective To observe the effect of trastuzumab and pertuzumab combined with TEC (docetaxel + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide) neoadjuvant therapy on the success rate of breast preservation in advanced human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer.Methods Ninety-two patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer diagnosed and treated in our hospital from March 2019 to March 2021 were retrospectively selected. They were divided into the study group and the control group according to different treatment plans, with 46 cases in each group. The control group received the TEC regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, combined with trastuzumab. The study group received pertuzumab in addition to the treatment in the control group. The serum levels of tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), clinical efficacy, success rate of breast conservation, adverse reactions and prognosis of the two groups were compared.Results The differences in the levels of TPS and CEA before and after treatment in the study group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The objective response rate and disease control rate of the study group were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The success rate of breast conservation in the study group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the study group and the control group in terms of the rates of grades I and II as well as grades III and IV of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, gastrointestinal reactions and renal injury (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the progression-free survival (PFS) between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusions The combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab with TEC as neoadjuvant therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer demonstrates significant efficacy, effectively reducing TPS and CEA levels, improving the success rate of breast conservation, and showing a favorable safety profile. However, the difference in the 1-year PFS was minimal during follow-up.