title: Targeting HER2 as a therapeutic strategy for breast cancer: a paradigmatic shift of drug development in oncology.
abstract: Targeted therapies are causing a dramatic change in cancer drug development. Trastuzumab, a humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody that recognizes the extracellular domain of HER2 trans-membrane protein, is among the first target-specific drugs that have been licensed for clinical use and its development represents a model of integration of new agents with classical treatment strategies. In preclinical models, trastuzumab has demonstrated a marked antiproliferative effect and a synergistic action with several chemotherapeutic agents. Monotherapy trials indicate that trastuzumab is active as a single agent in HER2 positive patients, is well tolerated, and is associated with preservation of quality of life (QoL). Furthermore, as first line therapy for metastatic breast cancer overexpressing HER2 receptor, the addition of trastuzumab to taxane-based chemotherapy significantly increased rate of objective response, time to disease progression and survival when compared with chemotherapy alone. Trastuzumab has shown important activity when used with many chemotherapeutic agents such as platinum salts, gemcitabine, vinorelbine and capecitabine and liposomal anthracyclines. Various trials are now ongoing to optimize the use of trastuzumab and to investigate its role in the adjuvant and in the neo-adjuvant setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Molecular and Clinical Oncology, University Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Laurentiis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cancello
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zinno
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montagna
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malorni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pennacchio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silvestro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Accurso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Placido
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000187:drug effects*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068878:Trastuzumab
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D013629:Tamoxifen; D043823:Taxoids; D000068878:Trastuzumab