Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/89174
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ + + +++++++++++++++++++++++++ ONCOLOGY UPDATE +++ +++ New Strategies By Sharon Wilks, M.D., FACP, and Allyson Harroff, M.D., medical oncologists, Cancer Care Centers of South Texas M ETASTATIC BREAST CANCER is a leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Approximately 20% of women with breast cancer have tumors that overexpress the human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (known as HER2/neu or HER2). In women with HER2/neu overexpressing breast cancer, the risks of disease progression and death are increased beyond that of women whose tumors do not overexpress HER2/neu. The HER2/neu receptor is a protein expressed on the surface of the breast cancer cells that exhibits tyrosine kinase activity. This enzyme is linked to signal transduction and, when activated, results in cell proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis. New therapeutic strategies have been developed to block the HER2/neu signaling pathways and have improved the treatment for this type of breast cancer. Trastuzumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1978 after pivotal studies showed significant improvement in survival rates in women with metastatic HER2/neu breast cancer. When administered, trastuzumab binds to the HER2/neu receptor and appears to inhibit the HER2/neu intracellular signaling pathways. Due to the early success of trastuzumab in stage IV metastatic HER2/neu positive breast cancer, trastuzumab also has been studied in the earlier stages of Block Signaling Pathways in Cancer Cells and Improve Treatment Outcomes for HER2/neu-positive Breast Cancer Patients 16 | San Antonio MD NEWS ■ MDNEWS.COM