HER2 Targeted Therapies - Cancer Science

What is HER2?

HER2, or Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2, is a protein that promotes cell growth. It is found on the surface of some cancer cells, particularly in breast cancer and gastric cancer. Overexpression of HER2 is associated with aggressive tumor behavior and a poor prognosis.

How Do HER2 Targeted Therapies Work?

HER2 targeted therapies work by specifically targeting the HER2 protein, thereby inhibiting its ability to promote cancer cell growth. These therapies can be in the form of monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or antibody-drug conjugates.

What Are Common HER2 Targeted Therapies?

Some of the most common HER2 targeted therapies include:

Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
Pertuzumab (Perjeta)
Lapatinib (Tykerb)
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1, Kadcyla)
Fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu)

What Cancers Are Treated with HER2 Targeted Therapies?

HER2 targeted therapies are primarily used in HER2-positive breast cancer but have also shown efficacy in other cancers such as HER2-positive gastric and esophageal cancers. Research is ongoing to determine their effectiveness in other HER2-expressing malignancies.

What Are the Side Effects of HER2 Targeted Therapies?

While HER2 targeted therapies are generally well-tolerated, they can cause side effects. Common side effects include fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, and cardiotoxicity. It is crucial to monitor heart function before and during treatment, especially with drugs like Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab.

How Effective Are HER2 Targeted Therapies?

HER2 targeted therapies have significantly improved outcomes for patients with HER2-positive cancers. They have been shown to reduce tumor size, delay disease progression, and improve overall survival rates. Combination therapies, such as Trastuzumab with chemotherapy, are particularly effective.

What Is the Future of HER2 Targeted Therapies?

The future of HER2 targeted therapies looks promising with ongoing research and clinical trials. New drugs and combination therapies are being developed to target HER2 more effectively and with fewer side effects. The advent of personalized medicine and genomic profiling is expected to further refine these treatments, making them more effective for individual patients.

Conclusion

HER2 targeted therapies have revolutionized the treatment of HER2-positive cancers, offering hope and improved outcomes for many patients. Ongoing research and advancements in personalized medicine promise to enhance these therapies further, making them more effective and accessible.

Relevant Publications

Ferroptosis as a promising targeted therapy for triple negative breast cancer.

Issue Release: 2024

Dual inhibition of the TrkA and JAK2 pathways using entrectinib and pacritinib suppresses the growth and metastasis of HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancers.

Issue Release: 2024

iGenSig-Rx: an integral genomic signature based white-box tool for modeling cancer therapeutic responses using multi-omics data.

Issue Release: 2024

Breast cancer epigenetics: current and evolving treatment.

Issue Release: 2024

Capecitabine monotherapy as first-line treatment in advanced HER2-normal breast cancer - a nationwide, retrospective study.

Issue Release: 2024

Quantitative characterization of the effects of fulvestrant alone or in combination with taselisib (PI3Kinase inhibitor) on longitudinal tumor growth in patients with estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, PIK3CA-mutant, advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Issue Release: 2024

Insights Into the Emerging Entity of HER2-Low Breast Cancer.

Issue Release: 2024

The therapeutic role of γδT cells in TNBC.

Issue Release: 2024

HER2-targeted therapies in non-small cell lung cancer.

Issue Release: 2024

Comparing the HER2 Status of the Primary Tumor to That of Disseminated Tumor Cells in Early Breast Cancer.

Issue Release: 2024

Comprehensive genomic profiling and therapeutic implications for Taiwanese patients with treatment-naïve breast cancer.

Issue Release: 2024

PD-L1 expression in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer is associated with sex and genetic alterations: A retrospective study within the Caucasian population.

Issue Release: 2024

Updates on the mechanisms of toxicities associated with monoclonal antibodies targeting growth factor signaling and immune cells in cancer.

Issue Release: 2024

Antibody-dye Conjugates Targeting EGFR and HER2 for the Photoimmunotherapy of Bladder Cancer.

Issue Release: 2024

Theranostic potential of a novel aptamer specifically targeting HER2 in breast cancer cells.

Issue Release: 2024

Imaging CAR-NK cells targeted to HER2 ovarian cancer with human sodium-iodide symporter-based positron emission tomography.

Issue Release: 2024

Claudin-18 status and its correlation with HER2 and PD-L1 expression in gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination.

Issue Release: 2024

Do proton pump inhibitors affect the effectiveness of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors in advanced HR positive, HER2 negative breast cancer? A meta-analysis.

Issue Release: 2024

Comprehensive molecular profiling identifies actionable biomarkers for patients from Thailand and the United Arab Emirates with advanced malignancies.

Issue Release: 2024

Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis: A Comprehensive Review.

Issue Release: 2024

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