Current neoadjuvant treatment options for HER2-positive breast cancer.

ABSTRACT: Approximately one quarter of patients with breast cancer demonstrate amplification of the human epidermal receptor type 2 (HER2) gene, the expression of which is associated with a relatively poor prognosis independent of other clinical and pathologic variables. Trastuzumab, a humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody specifically directed against the HER2 receptor, has been shown to be biologically active and of considerable clinical utility in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been used in breast cancer to downstage the tumor and increase the opportunity for breast-conserving surgery. Preoperative chemotherapy can also serve as an in vivo testing of chemotherapy sensitivity. Additionally, a pathologic complete response is usually a surrogate marker of dise

SUBMITTER: Abdel-Razeq H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3156251 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature