New perspectives on anti-HER2/neu therapeutics

HER2/neu and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are significantly overexpressed in several cancer cells. Overexpression of these two receptors accounts for progression of many types of cancer: breast, ovarian, skin, pancreas and brain. In recent years, several approaches to disable the receptor complexes have shown promise. Antibody-based therapy, kinase inhibitors and other inhibitors of signaling molecules are the major approaches. Our group developed the concept that an anti-p185HER2/neu monoclonal antibody might represent a therapeutic for cancer and this has culminated in a clinically useful therapeutic, the humanized monoclonal antibody Herceptin (trastuzumab). We have now developed a small-molecule form of an anti-HER2/neu peptidomimetic (AHNP) that exhibit functions comparable to those of the monoclonal antibody Herceptin. This approach may be considered a new paradigm in receptor-specific tumor therapeutics. A brief review of our approach in developing receptor-specific therapeutic agents for HER2/neu-related cancer is presented.