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Novel Therapies for Metastatic HER2 Positive Breast Cancer

  • Clinical Trials (MN Dickler, Section Editor)
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Abstract

The clinical course of HER2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer has changed since the introduction of trastuzumab, the first approved HER2 targeted agent. However, a significant number of patients relapse because of either de novo or acquired resistance to trastuzumab, imposing a need for other targeted agents. Lapatinib, the first targeted agent to demonstrate efficacy after trastuzumab progression, is licensed in combination with chemotherapy or with trastuzumab and has shown efficacy post-trastuzumab progression. Newer, recently approved agents include pertuzumab, an antibody preventing dimerization of HER2 and HER3, and T-DM1, an antibody-drug conjugate capable of delivering a highly cytotoxic agent into the cancer cells. Both agents have modest systemic toxicity. The dual combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab given in combination with docetaxel is the current standard first-line treatment for HER2+ MBC. T-DM1 is now approved for second-line treatment. Specific clinical scenarios, including brain metastases, still lack good therapeutic options. Newer targeted agents are being tested with an exciting future for the treatment of HER2+ MBC although there are challenges to develop them in today’s environment. Clinicians now have a number of options for treatment of metastatic HER2 advanced breast cancer although access to some drugs may be limited globally, often because of economic realities.

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Conflict of Interest

Rachel Jorge Dino Cossetti declares that she has no conflict of interest. Karen A. Gelmon has served on advisory boards for Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Amgen.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Cancer Center, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Rachel Jorge Dino Cossetti

  2. University of British Columbia, 600 West 10 Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Z 4E6

    Karen A. Gelmon

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  1. Rachel Jorge Dino Cossetti
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  2. Karen A. Gelmon
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Correspondence to Karen A. Gelmon.

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Cossetti, R.J.D., Gelmon, K.A. Novel Therapies for Metastatic HER2 Positive Breast Cancer. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 5, 331–340 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-013-0121-0

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