Lapatinib: new directions in HER2 directed therapy for early stage breast cancer.

摘要

Research over the last 20 years has resulted in the discovery of a wealth of information with regard to the biology of HER2 and the HER family, as well as convincing evidence supporting the HER2 oncogene hypothesis in the patho-genesis of human breast cancer. HER2 overexpressing tumors are highly addicted to HER2 function and undergo apoptotic cell death if HER2 function is lost. Approximately 25-30% of breast cancers overexpress HER2; clinically these tumors have been shown to have a more aggressive tumor biology and are associated with a worse clinical prognosis [1,2] (although this has been modified by the use of chemotherapy and targeted therapies). Therefore, HER2 has become one of the most attractive targets in cancer therapeutics.