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Review
. 2014 May 12:8:81-8.
doi: 10.4137/BCBCR.S9032. eCollection 2014.

Pertuzumab in Combination with Trastuzumab and Chemotherapy in the Treatment of HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: Safety, Efficacy, and Progression Free Survival

Joseph J Maly  1 , Erin R Macrae  2
Affiliations
Review

Pertuzumab in Combination with Trastuzumab and Chemotherapy in the Treatment of HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: Safety, Efficacy, and Progression Free Survival

Joseph J Maly et al. Breast Cancer (Auckl). .

Abstract

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have revolutionized the oncology community and were pioneered by the use in HER2-targeted therapies. Improved outcomes were seen with the advent of trastuzumab, leading investigators to develop newer agents to target the HER2 pathway such as the novel monoclonal antibody pertuzumab. In this paper, we describe the attributes of pertuzumab including: mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics and metabolism, safety/cardiotoxicity, drug interactions, efficacy, and role in HER2-positive breast cancer management. Newly reviewed here versus previously published reviews on pertuzumab oriented therapy are data of pertuzumab monotherapy as it is used in combination with other anti-HER2 agents derived from preclinical research and ongoing clinical trials.

Materials and methods: A computer based literature search was carried out using PubMed data reported at international meetings (ASCO) up to September 2013 were included.

Keywords: HER2; breast cancer; pertuzumab; trastuzumab.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The complementary signaling cascade pathway inhibition of pertuzumab given in conjunction with trastuzumab. HER2 and HER3 are transmembrane proteins with associated tyrosine kinases. They each have multiple binding sites, which are denoted, only slightly disparate with regard to sub-units #2 and #4. Homodimerization and heterodimerization both result in tyrosine kinase activation with the subsequent signaling cascade. Trastuzumab binds to domain IV of HER2 that designates its major difference from Pertuzumab, which binds to domain II of HER3.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Recommended management algorithm for HER2-positive breast cancer patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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