HER2 and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer--blocking the right target

Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2011 May;8(5):307-11. doi: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2010.185. Epub 2010 Dec 14.

Abstract

HER2-positive tumors have a worse prognosis than HER2-negative cancers. Although the standard treatment for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer is chemotherapy and trastuzumab, the combination of aromatase inhibitors with anti-HER2 therapies has become an available strategy in patients with HER2-positive and hormone receptor-positive tumors. However, although this new treatment option is more effective than hormone therapy alone, it has not been compared with the standard chemotherapy and trastuzumab-based regimens. In fact, the activity observed in randomized clinical trials with chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapies seems to be higher than that observed with aromatase inhibitors and trastuzumab-based or lapatinib-based therapies. In this article, we highlight the importance of considering chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapy as the standard of care in HER2-positive and hormone receptor-positive tumors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Progesterone / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • Standard of Care*
  • Trastuzumab

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab