[Herceptin and its therapeutic strategy in patients with breast cancer overexpressing HER2].
Herceptin (trastuzumab) is a recombinant humanized murine monoclonal antibody that recognizes HER2/neu cell-surface receptors and has been shown to be active both in combination with adriamycin (epirubicin)/cyclophosphamide or taxanes and as a single agent, either in the 1st or 2nd/3rd line treatment of women with metastatic breast cancer with HER2 overexpression by IHC or gene amplification by FISH. Preliminary results of Herceptin with other agents such as vinorelbine, cisplatin and various hormonal agents are also promising, and these combinations warrant further clinical exploration. Large-scale multicenter trials including a European and an international study in adjuvant setting have started for high-risk women with HER2 overexpressing breast cancer, with total planned recruitment of nearly 10,000 women.
Tajima
Tomoo
T
Department of Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Bohseidai, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.
Suzuki
Yasuhiro
Y
Tokuda
Yutaka
Y
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000068878:Trastuzumab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000068878:Trastuzumab