Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 2, 2025

Building Up a High-throughput Screening Platform to Assess the Heterogeneity of HER2 Gene Amplification in Breast Cancers
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A review of HER2 overexpression and somatic mutations in cancers

Michael Galogre1, Dmitry Rodin2, Mikhail Pyatnitskiy3

  • 1SmartOmica, Tērbatas iela 36 - 4, Latvia Rīga LV-1011, Latvia.

Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
|April 16, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) mutations and overexpression drive cancer by altering cell pathways. Understanding these HER2 alterations is key for targeted cancer prognosis and treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (HER) family, including HER2, are crucial membrane receptors regulating cell growth and development.
  • Aberrant HER2 signaling, through mutations or overexpression, is implicated in oncogenesis across various cancer types.
  • Distinct molecular mechanisms underlie HER2-driven oncogenesis in both mutation and overexpression scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the altered intracellular pathways caused by HER2 mutations and overexpression.
  • To compile known mechanisms through which HER2 contributes to cancer development.
  • To outline detection methods for HER2 alterations and their impact on cancer prognosis and treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific articles focusing on HER2 function, mutations, and overexpression in cancer.
  • Analysis of documented pathways affected by HER2 alterations.
  • Compilation of established detection techniques and their clinical relevance.

Main Results:

  • HER2 mutations and overexpression disrupt normal cellular signaling pathways, promoting uncontrolled cell proliferation.
  • Specific oncogenic mechanisms are associated with distinct HER2 alterations.
  • Detection of HER2 status influences patient prognosis and therapeutic decisions.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the specific mechanisms of HER2 alterations is critical for cancer research.
  • Accurate detection of HER2 mutations and overexpression enables personalized cancer treatment.
  • Targeting aberrant HER2 signaling offers therapeutic opportunities in various malignancies.
Keywords:
Cancer geneticsDrug resistanceHER2SomaticTumorigenesis

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