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.

Breast cancer: The upgraded role of HER-3 and HER-4.

Karamouzis MV, Badra FA, Papavassiliou AG

Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the ErbB receptor family holds crucial role in its pathogenesis. Among them, epidermal growth factor receptor and HER-2 are the most studied members and their overexpression has been associated with aggressive clinical behaviour. These data were further strengthened by the clinical success of trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against HER-2 in breast cancer patients with HER-2 overexpression and/or amplification. However, trastuzumab failure in some patients may partly be attributed to co-expression of other ErbB receptors. Herein, we provide updated views regarding the role of HER-3 and HER-4 in breast cancer. Accumulated evidence implies that these receptors should be considered more than heterodimerisation partners. Their expression profile might be useful in predicting responsiveness to current treatment options, while new strategies targeting their ligands and downstream effectors are being developed.

Published 26 January 2007 in Int J Biochem Cell Biol.
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