HER2 overexpression and cancer targeting.
Overexpression of the HER2/neu oncogene is a frequent molecular event in multiple human cancers including breast and ovarian cancer. Patients with breast cancer that overexpress HER2/neu have a poor prognosis, shorter relapse time, and low survival rate. In this report, the biologic signaling pathway mediated by HER2/neu tyrosine kinase receptor will be discussed. The mechanisms leading to transformation and tumorigenesis of HER2/neu-overexpressing cells will also be addressed. Treatments that target HER2/neu expression in cancer cells have been shown to be useful strategies to significantly reverse the malignancy induced by HER2/neu overexpression. In this report we will summarize strategies for targeting the HER2/neu gene, including targeting the gene product p185 oncoprotein, or transcriptional downregulation through the oncogene promoter. These fundamental studies, performed by different groups, warrant the clinical potential of targeting HER2/neu in cancer therapy.
Wang
S C
SC
Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Hung
M C
MC
D017500:Adenovirus E1A Proteins; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018734:Genes, erbB-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors
D017500:Adenovirus E1A Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D014157:Transcription Factors; C065788:transcription factor PEA3