Breast Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Breast Cancer, including details on symptoms, genetics, screening, treatment, information.

HER-2: a biomarker at the crossroads of breast cancer immunotherapy and molecular medicine.

Pupa SM, Tagliabue E, Ménard S, Anichini A

Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.

The oncoprotein encoded by the HER-2 oncogene is a member of the HER family of receptor tyrosine kinases and is actually the first successfully exploited target molecule in new biomolecular therapies of solid tumors. The association of HER-2 overexpression with human tumors, its extracellular accessibility, as well as its involvement in tumor aggressiveness are all factors that make this receptor an appropriate target for tumor-specific therapy. In addition, HER-2 overexpression fosters its immunogenicity, as shown by the frequency of B and T cell-mediated responses against this oncoprotein in cancer patients, and it is being investigated as a promising molecule for either passive and active immunotherapy strategies. This review summarizes a number of immune intervention approaches that target HER-2 in breast cancer.

Published 2 August 2005 in J Cell Physiol, 205(1): 10-8.
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