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.

Herceptin: mechanisms of action and resistance.

Nahta R, Esteva FJ

Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA.

HER-2 is overexpressed in 20-25% of invasive breast cancers and is associated with an aggressive tumor phenotype and reduced survival rate. The HER-2 status of a tumor is the critical determinant of response to the HER-2-targeted antibody Herceptin. Thus, accurate assessment of HER-2 expression levels is essential for identifying breast cancer patients who will benefit from HER-2-targeted therapy. Herceptin combined with chemotherapy increases response rates, time to disease progression, and survival. However, the majority of cancers that initially respond to Herceptin begin to progress again within 1 year. This review describes mechanisms by which Herceptin inhibits cell growth in breast cancers that overexpress HER-2 and highlights possible mechanisms contributing to Herceptin resistance.

Published 6 February 2006 in Cancer Lett, 232(2): 123-38.
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