This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS
Anti‐human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 monoclonal antibody therapy for breast cancer. BJS 2002; 89: 262-271.
Published: 5th November 2002
Authors: D. S. Leonard, A. D. K. Hill, L. Kelly, B. Dijkstra, E. McDermott, N. J. O'Higgins et al.
Background
Advances in molecular biology and improved understanding of tumour biology have led to the development of novel treatments for cancer. Trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech, San Francisco, California, USA) is a monoclonal antibody directed against human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 2 protein, which is overexpressed in a wide variety of human cancers, including 20–30 per cent of human breast cancers. HER‐2 plays an important role in oncogenic transformation, tumorigenesis and metastatic spread. Overexpression is associated with a poor prognosis and predicts a poor response to several treatment modalities.