title: HER-2 inhibition in gastric and colorectal cancers: tangible achievements, novel acquisitions and future perspectives.
abstract: HER-2 (ErbB-2, c-erbB2 or Her2/neu), a member of the HER-family, is directly involved in the pathogenesis and progression of several human cancers; as such, it is also often considered as a poor prognostic factor. Following the revolutionary impact of anti-HER-2 therapy in breast cancer patients, the role of HER-2 and its blockade has also been extensively evaluated in other tumor types, including gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma. The aims of this review are to recall the important results achieved with the use of HER-2 inhibitors in both gastric and colorectal cancer, and to discuss on the updates available on the role of HER-2 as prognostic and predictive factor in these malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University and General Hospital, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fanotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University and General Hospital, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ongaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rihawi
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Unit, National Cancer Institute "Fondazione Giovanni Pascale" - IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avallone
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, National CancerInstitute "Giovanni Paolo II" - IRCSS, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Silvestris
authors.affiliation: Unit of Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fornaro
authors.affiliation: Unit of Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vasile
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Careggi Hospital, Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Antonuzzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo Cancer Institute-FPO - IRCCS, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, National CancerInstitute "Giovanni Paolo II" - IRCSS, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, ARNAS Garibaldi, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bordonaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scartozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University and General Hospital, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Maglio
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University and General Hospital, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianpiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fasola
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University and General Hospital, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aprile
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human
keywords: HER2-inhibition; colorectal cancer; gastric cancer; predictive factor; prognosis