Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Establishment and Characterization of Three Afatinib-resistant Lung Adenocarcinoma PC-9 Cell Lines Developed with Increasing Doses of Afatinib
09:38

Establishment and Characterization of Three Afatinib-resistant Lung Adenocarcinoma PC-9 Cell Lines Developed with Increasing Doses of Afatinib

Published on: June 26, 2019

7.6K

Afatinib in the treatment of breast cancer

Sara A Hurvitz1, Rebecca Shatsky, Nadia Harbeck

  • 1University of California, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine , 10945 Le Conte Avenue, PVUB Suite 3360, Los Angeles, CA 90095 , USA +1 310 829 5471 ; +1 310 829 6192 ; shurvitz@mednet.ucla.edu.

Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
|May 30, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Afatinib shows promise for HER2-positive breast cancer, but a Phase III trial was halted due to safety concerns. Managing afatinib

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Trastuzumab has improved outcomes for HER2-positive breast cancer.
  • Resistance to trastuzumab necessitates new HER2-targeted therapies.
  • Afatinib is an irreversible pan-HER inhibitor with FDA approval in NSCLC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current therapies for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
  • To summarize afatinib's data in breast cancer from preclinical to Phase III studies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of preclinical analyses, Phase I, II, and III trials.
  • Summary of afatinib's efficacy and safety in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Main Results:

  • Phase I and II studies indicated promising activity for afatinib.
  • A Phase III trial in trastuzumab-resistant metastatic breast cancer was terminated early.
  • The early termination was due to an unfavorable risk-benefit analysis.

Conclusions:

  • Afatinib demonstrated promising activity in early-phase HER2-positive breast cancer trials.
  • The Phase III trial's early halt highlights significant toxicity concerns.
  • Future development of afatinib in breast cancer hinges on effective toxicity management.
Keywords:
afatinibhuman epidermal growth factor receptor2metastatic breast cancertyrosine kinase inhibitor

More Related Videos

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells13:38

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Published on: January 18, 2017

9.7K
Isolation of Primary Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from a Syngeneic Murine Model of Breast Cancer for the Study of Targeted Nanoparticles08:02

Isolation of Primary Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from a Syngeneic Murine Model of Breast Cancer for the Study of Targeted Nanoparticles

Published on: May 14, 2021

6.8K

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.0K
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
2.6K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
4.9K
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers01:26

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are two critical categories of drugs employed in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH is a disease that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
689