Herceptin Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Herceptin, including details on side-effects, breast cancer, treatment, therapy.

Lapatinib: current status and future directions in breast cancer.

Moy B, Goss PE

Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.

Lapatinib is an oral receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, targeting both the ErbB-1 and ErbB-2 receptors. Pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo models indicate that lapatinib is active as monotherapy, synergistically in combination with trastuzumab, and in trastuzumab-resistant cell lines. Early clinical trials also provide evidence in patients that lapatinib is active against breast cancer. This paper reviews results of phase II and III clinical trials of lapatinib in metastatic breast cancer, evidence for its potential in patients with brain metastases, and current clinical trials as adjuvant treatment in early-stage disease. Our improved understanding of the biology of breast cancer and the use of biomarkers for identification of specific subtypes is allowing us to bring patient-specific novel therapies such as lapatinib to the clinic.

Published 19 November 2006 in Oncologist, 11(10): 1047-57.
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