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HER2 targeted therapies for cancer and the gastrointestinal tract

Noor Al-Dasooqi1, Rachel Gibson, Joanne Bowen

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. noor.abdulghafour@adelaide.edu.au

Current Drug Targets
|June 13, 2009
PubMed

Insights

HER2-targeted cancer therapies can cause gastrointestinal toxicities like mucositis. This review explores the role of HER2 in cancer and the gut, and how these drugs may induce damage.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • HER2 (v-erb-b2 erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene) is a receptor tyrosine kinase in the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor family.
  • HER2 plays a role in cancer development and progression, making it a target for anti-cancer drugs.
  • HER2-targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, are used to treat various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on toxicities associated with HER2-targeted therapies.
  • To summarize the role of HER2 in both cancer and the healthy gastrointestinal tract.
  • To explore potential mechanisms underlying HER2-targeted drug-induced gastrointestinal damage and mucositis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on HER2-targeted therapies and their toxicities.
  • Analysis of the role of HER2 in cancer and gastrointestinal physiology.
  • Synthesis of proposed mechanisms for HER2-targeted drug-induced gastrointestinal toxicity.

Main Results:

  • HER2-targeted drugs can cause significant gastrointestinal toxicities, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
  • Symptoms observed are consistent with mucositis development.
  • Limited studies currently explain the precise mechanisms behind these toxicities.

Conclusions:

  • HER2-targeted therapies, while effective against cancer, are associated with considerable gastrointestinal side effects.
  • Understanding the dual role of HER2 in cancer and the gut is crucial for managing these toxicities.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of HER2-targeted drug-induced gastrointestinal damage and mucositis.

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