Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-6-11
pubmed:abstractText
More than 40,000 women in the United States die each year from metastatic breast cancer. Elucidation of HER2 and its role in malignant transformation has helped define a subset of aggressive breast cancer that may be relatively resistant to non-anthracycline-based therapies and hormonal agents, but responds to targeted molecular therapy. Trastuzumab, an antibody against HER2, has proven effective as single agent therapy in women with HER2 overexpressed metastatic breast cancer. Moreover, in combination with chemotherapy, trastuzumab has been shown to delay disease progression and improve overall survival for women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. The combination of chemotherapy and trastuzumab is emerging as a standard of care in women with HER2 overexpressed metastatic breast cancer. Several combination regimens using trastuzumab with taxanes, vinca alkaloids, or platinum compounds have demonstrated efficacy in first- and second-line treatment settings. However, the development of anthracycline-based combinations has been limited by concerns of related cardiotoxicity. Newer multi-agent regimens are in development. The optimal combination, duration, and sequence of trastuzumab therapy remain unknown in patients with HER2-positive metastatic disease. The role of continuing treatment after disease progression is also unclear. Evidence from some retrospective analyses suggest HER2-positive tumors are relatively resistant to tamoxifen and perhaps more responsive to aromatase inhibitors, although such data are inconclusive. HER2 status should not be used routinely for clinical decision making regarding hormonal therapy options. Several ongoing trials are attempting to address these and other issues related to HER2 testing to select the most appropriate candidates for these emerging therapies. While many questions remain, the treatment of HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer is rapidly evolving, and represents a new approach to treatment in oncology.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
1527-2729
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
3
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
163-74
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.
pubmed:affiliation
Breast Oncology Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review