title: Pertuzumab: a new anti-HER2 drug in the management of women with breast cancer.
abstract: Pertuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting HER2 that is different from trastuzumab in that it binds to a different domain of HER2; hence, combining the two drugs leads to a more comprehensive blockade of the receptor. This is the first drug to receive fast-track approval from US FDA based on the pathologic complete response (as the primary end point) attained in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Pertuzumab is approved in first-line treatment in metastatic setting both by FDA and EMA in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel. Combining two targeted therapies ('dual blockade') will certainly escalate treatment costs and it remains to be seen if this strategy will find its way in to the clinic for all patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dubai Hospital, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Shaheenah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dawood
authors.forename: Bhawna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sirohi
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C485206:pertuzumab
keywords: anti-HER2 therapy; breast cancer; combination; docetaxel; pertuzumab; trastuzumab