Inclusion Criteria:

- Female gender;

- Age ≥18 years;

- Performance Status- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-1

- Histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer:

- Primary tumour greater than 2 cm diameter, measured by clinical examination and
mammography or echography,

- Any N,

- No evidence of metastasis (M0) (isolated supraclavicular node involvement allowed);

- Over expression and/or amplification of HER2 in the invasive component of the primary
tumour [Wolff et al 2006] and confirmed by a certified laboratory prior to
randomisation

- Known hormone receptor status.

- Haematopoietic status:

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,5 x 10^9/L,

- Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10^9/L,

- Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dl,

- Hepatic status:

- Serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN). In the case of known
Gilbert's syndrome, a higher serum total bilirubin (< 2 x ULN) is allowed,

- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 times ULN,

- Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN,

- Renal status:

- Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL,

- Cardiovascular:

- Baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ³ 50% measured by echocardiography
(ECHO) or Multiple Gate Acquisition (MUGA) scan,

- Negative serum pregnancy test, within 2-weeks (preferably 7 days) prior to
randomization (For women of childbearing potential)

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception (barrier method - condoms,
diaphragm - also in conjunction with spermicidal jelly, or total abstinence. Oral,
injectable, or implant hormonal contraceptives are not allowed)

- Signed informed consent form (ICF)

- Patient accepts to make available tumour samples for submission to central laboratory
to conduct translational studies as part of this protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

- Received any prior treatment for primary invasive breast cancer;

- Previous (less than 10 years) or current history of malignant neoplasms, except for
curatively treated:

- Basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin;

- Carcinoma in situ of the cervix.

- Patients with a prior malignancy diagnosed more than 10 years prior to randomisation
may enter the study. Patients must have been curatively treated with surgery alone.
Radiation therapy or systemic therapy (chemotherapy or endocrine) are NOT permitted.
Prior diagnoses of breast cancer or melanoma are excluded.

- Diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer;

- Bilateral cancer;

- This criterion has been deleted from the protocol Version 1. Patients with
multi-focal cancer are no longer excluded.

- Known history of uncontrolled or symptomatic angina, clinically significant
arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, transmural myocardial infarction, uncontrolled
hypertension (≥180/110), unstable diabetes mellitus, dyspnoea at rest, or chronic
therapy with oxygen;

- Concurrent disease or condition that would make the subject inappropriate for study
participation or any serious medical disorder that would interfere with the subject's
safety;

- Unresolved or unstable, serious adverse events from prior administration of another
investigational drug;

- Active or uncontrolled infection;

- Dementia, altered mental status, or any psychiatric condition that would prevent the
understanding or rendering of ICF;

- Malabsorption syndrome, disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function, or
resection of the stomach or small bowel. Subjects with ulcerative colitis are also
excluded;

- Concurrent neoadjuvant cancer therapy (chemotherapy, radiation therapy,
immunotherapy, biologic therapy other than the trial therapies);

- Concurrent treatment with an investigational agent or participation in another
therapeutic clinical trial;

- Known immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reaction or idiosyncrasy to drugs
chemically related to trastuzumab or lapatinib or their excipients;

- Pregnant or lactating women;

- Concomitant use of CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers