title: HER2 therapy: molecular mechanisms of trastuzumab resistance.
abstract: Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody targeted against the HER2 tyrosine kinase receptor. The majority of patients with metastatic breast cancer who initially respond to trastuzumab develop resistance within one year of treatment initiation, and in the adjuvant setting 15% of patients still relapse despite trastuzumab-based therapy. In this review, we discuss potential mechanisms of antitumor activity by trastuzumab, and how these mechanisms become altered to promote therapeutic resistance. We also discuss novel therapies that may improve the efficacy of trastuzumab, and that offer hope that the survival of breast cancer patients with HER2-overexpressing tumors can be vastly improved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Holcombe Blvd, Houston, Texas 77030-4009, USA. rnahta@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nahta
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Esteva
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D000068878:Trastuzumab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000068878:Trastuzumab