Imaging Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets: Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Since the approval of trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against the extracellular domain of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), 3 other HER2-targeting agents have gained regulatory approval: lapatinib, pertuzumab, and trastuzumab-emtansine. These agents have revolutionized the management of HER2-positive breast cancer, highlighting the concept that targeted therapies are successful when patients exhibit tumor-selective expression of a molecular target-in this case, HER2. However, response prediction and innate or acquired resistance remain serious concerns. Predictive biomarkers of a response-which could help in the selection of patients who might benefit from a selected targeted therapy-are currently lacking. Molecular imaging with anti-HER2 probes allows the noninvasive, whole-body assessment of HER2 tumor burden and has the potential to improve patient selection, optimize the dose and schedule, and rationalize assessment of the response to anti-HER2 therapies. Furthermore, unlike biopsy-based HER2 assessment, this approach can reveal inter- or intratumoral heterogeneity as well as variations in HER2 expression over time. This review summarizes the available literature and the current status of molecular imaging as a tool for the assessment of HER2 (target) expression or the prediction of an early treatment response in early and advanced HER2-positive breast cancer.

publication date

  • February 1, 2016

Research

keywords

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Receptor, ErbB-2

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84958772138

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.2967/jnumed.115.157941

PubMed ID

  • 26834107

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 57 Suppl 1