Download HER2-positive breast cancer

HER2-positive breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common
cancer among women worldwide
More than 460,000 women will be diagnosed with the disease
in Europe each year1
137
France
UK
129
Germany
122
Italy
118
Spain
85
25
50
75
100
125
150
Figures show number diagnosed per 100,000 people
Every 20 seconds a woman is
diagnosed with breast cancer2
HER2-positive breast cancer is
an aggressive type of the disease3
Around one in five women
will have HER2-positive disease4
HER2 is a receptor found
on the surface of all cells
The binding of growth
factors to the HER2
receptor triggers a
signalling pathway
Cell
membrane
Site
binding
Signals
sent to cell
nucleus
HER2 is like a transmitter,
sending messages or
‘signals’ into the cell,
telling it to survive
and multiply
HER2 overexpression
on the surface of a
HER2-positive cancer
cell sends more signals
causing cells to grow
and divide more rapidly
HER2 signalling
In HER2-positive breast
cancer, there are too many
HER2 receptors on the
surface of cancerous cells
References:
1. Ferlay J, et al. Eur J Cancer 2013;49(6):1374-403.
2. Ferlay J, et al. [Online]. Available from: http://globocan.iarc.fr
[Accessed 12 September 2014].
3. Slamon D, et al. N Engl J Med 2001;344(11):783-92.
4. Wolff AC, et al. J Clin Oncol 2013;31(31):3997-4013.
HER2-positive cancer cell