Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 5, 2025

Modeling Brain Metastasis by Internal Carotid Artery Injection of Cancer Cells
10:01

Modeling Brain Metastasis by Internal Carotid Artery Injection of Cancer Cells

Published on: August 2, 2022

6.8K

HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: Available Treatments and Current Developments

Ismail Essadi1, Zineb Benbrahim2, Mohamed Kaakoua1

  • 1Medical Oncology, Ibn Sina Military Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh 40080, Morocco.

Cancers
|March 29, 2023
PubMed

Insights

New treatments like trastuzumab-deruxtecan offer hope for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Research is ongoing to clarify their effectiveness, especially for brain metastases, and to integrate new therapies like tucatinib.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Medical Research

Background:

  • HER2 receptor overexpression in breast cancer is linked to poor prognosis and brain metastases.
  • Current standards for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) include anti-HER2 double blockade, taxane, and trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1).
  • Newer agents like trastuzumab-deruxtecan have shown improved survival, becoming a new standard of care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review established and novel anti-HER2 therapies for HER2-positive MBC.
  • To discuss the efficacy of current treatments, including antibody-drug conjugates, in patients with brain metastases.
  • To explore optimal integration of anti-HER2 therapies in first and later-line settings.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of established drugs and novel agents for HER2-positive MBC.
  • Analysis of clinical data regarding treatment outcomes, particularly for patients with brain metastases.
  • Discussion of therapeutic strategies and treatment sequencing.

Main Results:

  • Trastuzumab-deruxtecan has demonstrated improved overall survival in second-line treatment for HER2-positive MBC.
  • The benefit of antibody-drug conjugates, including trastuzumab-deruxtecan, in patients with brain metastases requires further clarification.
  • Tucatinib, a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor, shows promise for treating patients with brain metastases.

Conclusions:

  • Established and novel anti-HER2 therapies are evolving for HER2-positive MBC.
  • Further research is needed to establish the role of new agents in patients with brain metastases.
  • Personalized treatment strategies are crucial for optimizing outcomes in HER2-positive MBC.
Keywords:
HER2-positivemetastatic breast cancertargeted therapies

More Related Videos

Quantifying Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Tumor Spheroid Model: Application for Drug Discovery13:19

Quantifying Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Tumor Spheroid Model: Application for Drug Discovery

Published on: April 26, 2024

2.8K
Looking for Driver Pathways of Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapy: Drug Resistant Subclone Generation and Sensitivity Restoring by Gene Knock-down08:59

Looking for Driver Pathways of Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapy: Drug Resistant Subclone Generation and Sensitivity Restoring by Gene Knock-down

Published on: December 11, 2017

7.3K

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...
7.7K
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...
3.4K
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
460
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
600
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
6.6K