Lapatinib ditosylate: expanding therapeutic options for receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2-positive breast cancer.
Receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer is a specific entity with an aggressive behavior. Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting erbB-2 (HER2) deeply transformed the outcome in patients. Nevertheless, resistance to trastuzumab is still a major concern. Lapatinib ditosylate is an orally available, small molecule targeting the tyrosine activity of the HER2 receptor. Lapatinib as a single agent and in combination therapy showed interesting activity in trastuzumab-resistant advanced tumors. In addition, lapatinib use seemed suitable in recurrent locally advanced inflammatory breast cancer and brain metastases. More recently, the Neo-ALTTO (NeoAdjuvant Lapatinib and/or Trastuzumab Treatment Optimisation) trial showed that lapatinib in combination with trastuzumab and paclitaxel significantly improved the pathological complete response in a neoadjuvant setting. Several clinical trials are still ongoing and data that may change current clinical practice are awaited with much interest.
Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. ahmad.awada@bordet.be
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Awada
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Saliba
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Bozovic-Spasojevic
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077341:Lapatinib; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077341:Lapatinib; D011799:Quinazolines; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human