Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2116025 Cancer Letters 2006 16 Pages PDF
Abstract

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.

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Life Sciences Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology Cancer Research
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