title: HER-2: a biomarker at the crossroads of breast cancer immunotherapy and molecular medicine.
abstract: The oncoprotein encoded by the HER-2 oncogene is a member of the HER family of receptor tyrosine kinases and is actually the first successfully exploited target molecule in new biomolecular therapies of solid tumors. The association of HER-2 overexpression with human tumors, its extracellular accessibility, as well as its involvement in tumor aggressiveness are all factors that make this receptor an appropriate target for tumor-specific therapy. In addition, HER-2 overexpression fosters its immunogenicity, as shown by the frequency of B and T cell-mediated responses against this oncoprotein in cancer patients, and it is being investigated as a promising molecule for either passive and active immunotherapy strategies. This review summarizes a number of immune intervention approaches that target HER-2 in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Serenella M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pupa
authors.forename: Elda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tagliabue
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ménard
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anichini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases