title: Breast cancer: the upgraded role of HER-3 and HER-4.
abstract: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the ErbB receptor family holds crucial role in its pathogenesis. Among them, epidermal growth factor receptor and HER-2 are the most studied members and their overexpression has been associated with aggressive clinical behaviour. These data were further strengthened by the clinical success of trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against HER-2 in breast cancer patients with HER-2 overexpression and/or amplification. However, trastuzumab failure in some patients may partly be attributed to co-expression of other ErbB receptors. Herein, we provide updated views regarding the role of HER-3 and HER-4 in breast cancer. Accumulated evidence implies that these receptors should be considered more than heterodimerisation partners. Their expression profile might be useful in predicting responsiveness to current treatment options, while new strategies targeting their ligands and downstream effectors are being developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Michalis V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Karamouzis
authors.forename: Filitsa A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Badra
authors.forename: Athanasios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Papavassiliou
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4; D000068878:Trastuzumab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4; D000068878:Trastuzumab; C587689:ERBB4 protein, human