Download HER2 BREAK-THROUGH IN BREAST CANCER

HER2 BREAK-THROUGH IN BREAST CANCER
Where do we stand today?-overview
Aleksandra Filipovic
University of Nis
Faculty of Medicine
Yugoslavia
Introduction:
HER2 is a proto-oncogene that encodes a human epidermal growth factor with tyrosine kinase
activity.It transmits signals into cell nucleus,thus regulating normal cell growth,division and
differentiation.(3)HER2 overexpression,usually caused by HER2 gene amplification,results in
oncogenic transformation,and is regarded as HER2 positive(+) status in approximately 30% of
metastatic breast cancer(BC) patients.(1,3)
Aim:
To increase understanding of the importance of HER2 testing and the implications of HER2 + status
as a prognostic and predictive factor of treatment outcome of BC patients.
Method:
Recent data from HER2 Monography(1999),American Society of Clinical Oncology(ASCO)education
books(2001,2002),as well as the latest reportings from HER targeting conference in
Montreux(2002)and 3rd European Breast Cancer Conference in Barcelona(2002).
Results:
Routinely used laboratory methods for estimating HER2 status
are:immunohistochemistry(IHC),flourescent in situ hybridisation(FISH),polymerase chain
reaction(PCR) ect.(1,2)Women whose BCs are Her2 ++/+++ by IHC and/or FISH positive have a
more agressive disease,shortened disease free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS) and altered
respons to conventional anticancer agents.(1,4)HER2 receptor,thus,provides an extracellular target
for novel and specific anticancer treatment-monoclonal antibodies.Herceptin is the first targeted
therapy for HER2 positive BCs.(5)It is evident that anti-HER2 therapy induces objective tumor
remission and survival benefit.
Conclusion:
Characterisation of HER2 opened the door for its' exploitation in determining prognosis and
rationalisation of the most appropriate therapy for individuals with BC.Anti-HER2 therapy may
represent the most inovative BC treatment developed in the last 20 years.
References:
1. Roche HER2 Monography,1999
2. From theory to therapy-targeting HER2 in breast cancer'-abstract book from Nottingham Breast
Cancer Conference,1999
3. DeVita VT,Cancer Principles and Practise of Oncology volume 2,edition 6,2001
4. ASCO 2001 & 2002 education books
5. Abstract book-3rd European Breast Cancer Conference,Barcelona 2002
Acknowledgement:
My graditude goes to the firm F.Hoffmann-La Roche for making it possible for me to acquire
knowledge about HER2 and for sponsoring my participation in the oncology summer school.
Summer School participant:
Filipovic Aleksandra
24/6 Sindjelicev trg
18000 Nis,Yugoslavia
E-mail:[email protected]
Faculty of Medicine,University of Nis
Abstract also reviewed by:
Prof.Dr Ratko Ilic
Pathology Institute
Faculty of Medicine
University of Nis