Improving the efficacy of trastuzumab in breast cancer

Although overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein, amplification of the gene or both are associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer, trastuzumab has clearly provided clinical benefits in metastatic breast cancer, adjuvant treatment settings and primary systemic therapy. However, even in those HER2 overexpressors, the majority of patients who achieve an initial response generally acquire resistance within 1 year. Therefore, it is critical to elucidate the mechanism of resistance and to search for better combination treatments with chemotherapeutic agents or other novel modalities. Here, we discuss both clinical and preclinical data regarding these issues.