Pertuzumab for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
Pertuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) heterodimerization and has demonstrated clinical activity against both breast and ovarian cancer. To date, it is the most extensively studied HER2 inhibitor in ovarian cancer.


METHODS
We focus on the published descriptions of preclinical and clinical activity in ovarian cancer and biomarkers associated with response. We compare the activity of pertuzumab with that of other clinically evaluated HER2 inhibitors.


RESULTS
To date, pertuzumab is the most extensively trialled HER2 inhibitor in ovarian cancer, with almost 400 patients having been treated in three large Phase II studies. Recent clinical trials data indicate that pertuzumab enhances gemcitabine's activity in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and may enhance carboplatin's activity in platinum-sensitive disease; moreover the subgroup who benefit from pertuzumab appear to be those with cancers with activated HER2 or low HER3 mRNA expression. This review examines the recent clinical trials results and associated preclinical studies that support the utility of pertuzumab in this disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Pertuzumab may have value for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Further prospective biomarker-led trials are warranted.
Langdon
Simon P
SP
Division of Pathology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK. simon.langdon@ed.ac.uk
Faratian
Dana
D
Nagumo
Yoko
Y
Mullen
Peter
P
Harrison
David J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human; C485206:pertuzumab