Mechanisms behind the Resistance to Trastuzumab in HER2-Amplified Breast Cancer and Strategies to Overcome It

The introduction of trastuzumab therapy markedly improved the poor prognosis associated with HER2-amplified breast cancers. Despite this, the presence of primary and acquired resistance to trastuzumab treatment remains a significant common challenge. The identification of resistance mechanisms and t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maria Luque-Cabal, Paula García-Teijido, Yolanda Fernández-Pérez, Luisa Sánchez-Lorenzo, Isabel Palacio-Vázquez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2016-01-01
Series:Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4137/CMO.S34537
Description
Summary:The introduction of trastuzumab therapy markedly improved the poor prognosis associated with HER2-amplified breast cancers. Despite this, the presence of primary and acquired resistance to trastuzumab treatment remains a significant common challenge. The identification of resistance mechanisms and the incorporation of new drugs that achieve a better blockade of HER family receptors signaling have resulted in improved outcomes. The phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, cross-talk with estrogen receptors, immune response, cell cycle control mechanisms, and other tyrosine kinase receptors such as insulin-like growth factor I receptor are potential pathways involved in trastuzumab resistance. Different therapeutic interventions targeting these pathways are currently under evaluation.
ISSN:1179-5549