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.

Effects of HER2-binding affibody molecules on intracellular signaling pathways.

Ekerljung L, Steffen AC, Carlsson J, Lennartsson J

Department of Oncology, Radiology and Clinical Immunology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden.

BACKGROUND: HER2, which is overexpressed in 25-30% of human breast cancers, is a tyrosine kinase receptor critical for the signal transduction network that regulates proliferation, migration and apoptosis of cells. METHOD: We report the effects of two novel HER2-binding affibody molecules (Affibody), (ZHER2:4)2 and ZHER2:342, on intracellular signal transduction pathways (Erk1/2, Akt and PLCgamma1) using quantitative immunoblotting techniques and their biological effects in cell culture. The clinically approved antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin) was used as reference substance. RESULTS: Our data showed that, although all substances target HER2, the effects on the receptor and signaling molecules differed. For example, HER2 phosphorylation was induced by trastuzumab and (ZHER2:4)2 but inhibited by ZHER2:342. The effects these substances had on signal transduction correlated to some degree with changes in growth and migration, e.g. (ZHER2:4)2 stimulated phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and PLCgamma1, as well as growth and migration, while ZHER2:342 did not. ZHER2:342 even inhibited phosphorylation of PLCgamma1 and migration. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that ZHER2:342 is a promising small agent (7 kDa) that may be used as an alternative, or complement, to trastuzumab. If radiolabelled, it can hopefully also be used for HER2 imaging and radionuclide therapy.

Published 19 May 2006 in Tumour Biol, 27(4): 201-10.
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