Trastuzumab in metastatic breast cancer.
Metastatic breast cancer is an incurable disease in a very high percentage of patients. Despite new progress in endocrine and other systemic therapies, this evidence remains challenging for patients and clinicians. HER2 protein is a member of the epidermal growth factor family of transmembrane receptors. HER2 is overexpressed in approximately 20% to 30% of breast cancers. Overexpression of HER2 has been shown to be associated with increased tumor proliferation and relative resistance to some types of chemotherapy and hormonal therapies. Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against HER2 protein, has been shown to be an efficacious and well tolerated treatment for HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer, both as a single agent and when it is used in combination with chemotherapy.
Tomao
F
F
Department of Gynaecology Perinatology and Puericulture Science, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
Miele
E
E
Spinelli
G P
GP
Russillo
M
M
La Ferla
G
G
Tomao
S
S
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000068878:Trastuzumab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000068878:Trastuzumab