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.

Dual inhibition of ErbB1 (EGFR/HER1) and ErbB2 (HER2/neu).

Reid A, Vidal L, Shaw H, de Bono J

Royal Marsden Hospital, The Institute of Cancer Research, Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, Downs Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK.

Targeting of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2 is a proven anti-cancer strategy. However, heterodimerisation, compensatory 'crosstalk' and redundancy exist in the ErbB network, and there is therefore a sound scientific rationale for dual inhibition of EGFR and HER2. Trials of approved agents in combination, for example trastuzumab and cetuximab, are underway. There is also a new generation of small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and monoclonal antibodies (mABs) that target two or more ErbB receptors. Lapatinib, a TKI of EGFR and HER2, has shown clinical benefit in trastuzumab refractory breast cancer and is poised for FDA approval. Other agents include BIBW-2992 and HKI-272, irreversible TKIs of EGFR and HER2, and pertuzumab, a heterodimerisation inhibitor of EGFR and HER2.

Published 5 February 2007 in Eur J Cancer, 43(3): 481-9.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Herceptin Research Today. All Rights Reserved.