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Updated: Nov 2, 2025
Building Up a High-throughput Screening Platform to Assess the Heterogeneity of HER2 Gene Amplification in Breast Cancers
Published on: December 5, 2017
Heterogeneous clinical and pathological landscapes of HER2 positive colorectal cancer
Zhiqin Chen1, Jinde Chen1, Yong Gao1
1Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR. China.
Abstract:
Introduction: Metastatic (m) colorectal cancer (CRC) can be divided into specific subgroups under the 'one gene, one drug' paradigm of precision medicine. Progress of targeted therapy in mCRC patients significantly improved the overall survival rate, notably by therapy targeting of EGFR signaling in RAS wild-type mCRC patients. Activation of the HER2 pathway is an important mechanism of resistance for anti-EGFR therapy.Area covered: Inhibition of HER2 with monoclonal antibodies and/or tyrosine kinase inhibitors induces tumor responses in partial HER2-positive CRC refractory to standard systemic therapy. This manuscript aimed to provide an overall insight of the HER2 expression pattern and highlighted specific clinicopathological and molecular features involved in mCRC. In addition, we summarize preclinical and clinical trials in HER2-positive mCRC.Expert opinion: The status and progression of HER2-positive gastric cancer and breast cancer and anti-HER2 therapy have been reported widely. However, the understanding of HER2-positive CRC models which may guide future therapeutic decision-making is poor. Therefore, it is essential to summarize the existing research to extract similarity and difference among various studies.
Insights
Targeting HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) shows promise for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients resistant to other therapies. This review summarizes HER2 expression and anti-HER2 treatments in mCRC.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Precision Medicine
Background:
- Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treatment has advanced with targeted therapies, particularly for RAS wild-type patients targeting EGFR.
- HER2 pathway activation is a key resistance mechanism against anti-EGFR therapies in mCRC.
- HER2-positive cancers (gastric, breast) have well-established anti-HER2 treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of HER2 expression patterns in mCRC.
- To highlight clinicopathological and molecular features associated with HER2-positive mCRC.
- To summarize preclinical and clinical trials of anti-HER2 therapies in mCRC.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on HER2 expression in mCRC.
- Analysis of preclinical and clinical trial data for anti-HER2 agents in mCRC.
- Comparative analysis of HER2-positive CRC models with other HER2-driven cancers.
Main Results:
- Inhibition of HER2 with targeted agents can induce tumor responses in HER2-positive mCRC refractory to standard therapies.
- Understanding HER2 expression and its role in mCRC is crucial for guiding treatment decisions.
- Existing research on HER2-positive CRC models is limited compared to other HER2-driven malignancies.
Conclusions:
- Targeting HER2 represents a potential therapeutic strategy for a subset of mCRC patients.
- Further research into HER2-positive CRC models is needed to optimize anti-HER2 therapeutic strategies.
- Summarizing current knowledge is essential for advancing the clinical management of HER2-positive mCRC.
