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Previous Volume 357:39-51 July 5, 2007 Number 1 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2, also referred to as HER2/neu or ErbB-2), a 185-kD receptor first described more than two decades ago,¹ occurs in 20 to 30% of invasive breast carcinomas. In general, patients with breast-cancer cells that overexpress this receptor or that have a high copy number of its gene have decreased overall survival and may have differential responses to a variety of chemotherapeutic and hormonal agents.^2,3,4,5,6 Thus, strategies to target HER2 appear to be important in treating breast cancer. One such medication is trastuzumab (Herceptin, Genentech), a humanized monoclonal antibody. Trastuzumab binds to . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Background

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors and Their Functions

HER2 Signaling and Overexpression

Mechanism of Action of Trastuzumab

Results of Clinical Trials

Toxicity

Clinical Significance of HER2 Testing

Studies of Trastuzumab as Adjuvant Therapy

Clinical Use of Trastuzumab

Metastatic Breast Cancer

Adjuvant Therapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Future Directions

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Solid Tumor Division, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Hudis at the Breast Cancer Medicine Service, Solid Tumor Division, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., P.O. Box 206, New York, NY 10021, or at hudisc@mskcc.org.

Related Letters:

Trastuzumab — Mechanism of Action and Use
Karamouzis M. V., Konstantinopoulos P. A., Papavassiliou A. G., Mir O., Berveiller P., Pons G., Hudis C. A.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2007; 357:1664-1666, Oct 18, 2007. Correspondence

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