title: Differential sensitivity of ERBB2 kinase domain mutations towards lapatinib.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overexpression of the ERBB2 kinase is observed in about one-third of breast cancer patients and the dual ERBB1/ERBB2 kinase inhibitor lapatinib was recently approved for the treatment of advanced ERBB2-positive breast cancer. Mutations in the ERBB2 receptor have recently been reported in breast cancer at diagnosis and also in gastric, colorectal and lung cancer. These mutations may have an impact on the clinical responses achieved with lapatinib in breast cancer and may also have a potential impact on the use of lapatinib in other solid cancers. However, the sensitivity of lapatinib towards clinically observed ERBB2 mutations is not known.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We cloned a panel of 8 clinically observed ERBB2 mutations, established stable cell lines and characterized their sensitivity towards lapatinib and alternative ERBB2 inhibitors. Both lapatinib-sensitive and lapatinib-resistant ERBB2 mutations were observed. Interestingly, we were able to generate lapatinib resistance mutations in wt-ERBB2 cells incubated with lapatinib for prolonged periods of time. This indicates that these resistance mutations may also cause secondary resistance in lapatinib-treated patients. Lapatinib-resistant ERBB2 mutations were found to be highly resistant towards AEE788 treatment but remained sensitive towards the dual irreversible inhibitors CL-387785 and WZ-4002.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients harbouring certain ERBB2 kinase domain mutations at diagnosis may not benefit from lapatinib treatment. Moreover, secondary lapatinib resistance may develop due to kinase domain mutations. Irreversible ERBB2 inhibitors may offer alternative treatment options for breast cancer and other solid tumor patients harbouring lapatinib resistance mutations. In addition, these inhibitors may be of interest in the scenario of secondary lapatinib resistance.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors: Rama Krishna
authors: RK
authors: Kancha
authors: Nikolas
authors: N
authors: von Bubnoff
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Bartosch
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Peschel
authors: Richard A
authors: RA
authors: Engh
authors: Justus
authors: J
authors: Duyster
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077341:Lapatinib; D009154:Mutation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077341:Lapatinib; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases