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.

HER-2/neu targeting for recurrent vulvar Paget's disease A case report and literature review.

Karam A, Berek JS, Stenson A, Rao J, Dorigo O

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of Paget's disease of the vulva particularly for recurrences can be challenging. Overexpression of the HER-2/neu protein has been found in about 30% of vulvar Paget's cases therefore presenting a potential therapeutic target. CASE: We report the case of a 52-year-old patient with persistent Paget's disease of the vulva despite eight surgical excisions over a 15-year period. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated overexpression of the HER-2/neu protein in the vulva resection specimen. Treatment with Trastuzumab resulted in a significant regression of her disease and resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Based on our case report, therapeutic targeting of HER-2/neu for patients with Paget's disease of the vulva using for example Trastuzumab is a potentially effective, alternative approach, and warrants further investigation.

Published 29 February 2008 in Gynecol Oncol.
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