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Targeted treatment of advanced and metastaticbreast cancer with lapatinib

Brendan Corkery1, Norma O'Donovan, John Crown

  • 1St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Oncotargets and Therapy
|December 4, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Lapatinib is an effective dual inhibitor for HER-2 and EGFR, showing promise in advanced breast cancer, especially for HER-2 positive patients. Further research is evaluating its use in early-stage disease and brain metastases.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Recent advancements in breast cancer molecular understanding have identified key targets like HER-2 and EGFR.
  • Lapatinib is a dual inhibitor targeting both HER-2 and EGFR, demonstrating preclinical and Phase I activity.
  • The drug is generally well-tolerated, with known interactions and manageable side-effects like diarrhea and skin events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the efficacy and safety of lapatinib in advanced and metastatic breast cancer.
  • To explore lapatinib's role as monotherapy and in combination regimens.
  • To assess lapatinib's potential in specific patient populations, including HER-2 positive and CNS metastatic breast cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical and Phase I, II, and III clinical studies on lapatinib in breast cancer.
  • Analysis of data on lapatinib's efficacy, safety, and drug interactions.
  • Evaluation of combination therapies involving lapatinib and other agents like trastuzumab, chemotherapy, and hormonal agents.

Main Results:

  • Lapatinib demonstrates activity in advanced/metastatic breast cancer, particularly in the HER-2 positive population.
  • Combination therapies, including with trastuzumab, show encouraging results, especially in trastuzumab-refractory cases.
  • Lapatinib may offer a role in treating HER-2 positive central nervous system (CNS) metastases.

Conclusions:

  • Lapatinib is a valuable therapeutic option for advanced and metastatic breast cancer, particularly in HER-2 positive patients.
  • Ongoing studies are investigating lapatinib's utility in neoadjuvant therapy and early breast cancer.
  • Lapatinib's safety profile, including cardiotoxicity, compares favorably to other HER-2 targeted agents.
Keywords:
EGFRHER-2Tykerb®erbBlapatinibtyrosine kinase

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