title: Management of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer progression after adjuvant trastuzumab therapy - current evidence and future trends.
abstract: Trastuzumab is now considered the standard of care for the adjuvant treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer patients, yet a sizable number of HER2-positive patients do not benefit from this treatment. For patients who progress on or after completion of adjuvant trastuzumab therapy, the standard of care is uncertain. Newer tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies are being evaluated in clinical trials for optimisation of treatment in this group. The interplay of HER2 and hormonal signalling pathways is being manipulated to see if response rates can be bettered. In this reveiw we explain the present role of the new molecules with a case scenario. The new anti-HER2 drugs have the potential to change clinical practise of targeting HER2 in the future. Better understanding of HER2 functions and interactions of different signalling pathways will be essential for optimal targetted therapies.
authors.affiliation: Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Metzger-Filho
authors.forename: Tushar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vora
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awada
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D018450:Disease Progression; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D000068878:Trastuzumab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000068878:Trastuzumab