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Lapatinib plus letrozole for postmenopausal patients with advanced HER2(+)/HR(+) breast cancer

Valentina Guarneri1

  • 1Department of Oncology Hematology and Respiratory Diseases, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia University Hospital, Modena, Italy. guarneri.valentina@unimore.it

Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy
|November 10, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Lapatinib, a dual EGFR/HER2 inhibitor, is approved for HER2-positive breast cancer. New data suggest lapatinib may also improve endocrine therapy response in hormone receptor-positive disease.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Lapatinib is an oral small-molecule dual inhibitor targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR) and 2 (HER2).
  • Lapatinib is approved in combination with capecitabine for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients who have progressed on trastuzumab-based therapy.
  • Clinical trial data underscore lapatinib's significance in managing HER2-positive breast cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize data supporting the clinical development of combining lapatinib with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole.
  • To explore lapatinib's potential role in enhancing or restoring endocrine sensitivity in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trial data.
  • Analysis of lapatinib's mechanism of action in HER2-positive and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Main Results:

  • Consistent clinical data confirm lapatinib's efficacy in HER2-positive breast cancer.
  • Emerging data indicate lapatinib's potential to improve endocrine responsiveness in hormone receptor-positive disease.

Conclusions:

  • Lapatinib plays a key role in HER2-positive breast cancer treatment.
  • Lapatinib shows promise in combination with endocrine therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

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