title: Pertuzumab: a new targeted therapy for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, has become an important targeted therapy for patients with all stages of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. However, primary and acquired resistance to trastuzumab remains a significant problem. Pertuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to a domain of the HER2 receptor separate from trastuzumab, may have the potential to overcome trastuzumab resistance. Clinical trials have shown that pertuzumab can be effectively combined with other biologic therapy or chemotherapy in patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. Pertuzumab is relatively well tolerated with minimal increases in hematologic and cardiac toxicity observed when added to trastuzumab and/or docetaxel. In addition to becoming the standard of care in combination with docetaxel and trastuzumab in patients with newly diagnosed HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, clinical trials continue to evaluate pertuzumab in combination with other targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and in patients with early stage breast cancer. These trials will help to further determine the role of pertuzumab in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Stephanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Malenfant
authors.forename: Karen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Eckmann
authors.forename: Chad M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000639:trends; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human; C485206:pertuzumab
keywords: HER2; breast cancer; human epidermal growth factor receptor; pertuzumab