HER2/neu

HER2/neu (also known as ErbB-2, gene|ERBB2) stands for "Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2" and is a protein giving higher aggressiveness in breast cancers. It is a member of the ErbB protein family, more commonly known as the epidermal growth factor receptor family. HER2/neu has also been designated as CD340 (cluster of differentiation 340).

Function

HER2/neu is notable for its role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer and as a target of treatment. It is a cell membrane surface-bound receptor tyrosine kinase and is normally involved in the signal transduction pathways leading to cell growth and differentiation. HER2 is thought to be an orphan receptor, with none of the EGF family of ligands able to activate it. However, ErbB receptors dimerise on ligand binding, and HER2 is the preferential dimerisation partner of other members of the ErbB family.cite journal |author=Olayioye MA|title=Update on HER-2 as a target for cancer therapy: intracellular signaling pathways of ErbB2/HER-2 and family members|journal= Breast Cancer Res |volume= 3 |issue= 6 |pages= 385–389 |year= 2001|doi= 10.1186/bcr327 |pmid= 11737890] The "HER2" gene is a proto-oncogene located at the long arm of human chromosome 17(17q11.2-q12).

HER2 and cancer

Approximately 15-20 percent of breast cancers have an amplification of the "HER2/neu" gene or overexpression of its protein product. [cite web | title = Entrez Gene: ERBB2 v-erb-b2 erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 2, neuro/glioblastoma derived oncogene homolog (avian)| url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=gene&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=2064| accessdate = ] Overexpression of this receptor in breast cancer is associated with increased disease recurrence and worse prognosis. Because of its prognostic role as well as its ability to predict response to trastuzumab (see below), breast tumors are routinely checked for overexpression of HER2/neu. Overexpression also occurs in other cancer such as ovarian cancer and stomach cancer.

The oncogene "neu" is so-named because it was derived from a neuroglioblastoma cell line in rat. HER2 is named because it has similar structure to human epidermal growth factor receptor, or HER1. ErbB2 was named for its similarity to ErbB (avian erythroblastosis oncogene B), the oncogene later found to code for EGFR. Gene cloning showed that "neu", HER2, and ErbB2 were the same.

HER2 is co-localized, and thus most of the time co-amplified with the gene GRB7, which is as well a proto-oncogene (active in e.g. breast cancer, testicular germ cell tumor, gastric cancer, and esophageal cancer).

Drugs targeting HER2

Clinically, HER2/neu is important as the target of the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (marketed as Herceptin). Trastuzumab is only effective in breast cancer where the HER2/neu receptor is overexpressed. One of the mechanisms of how traztuzumab works after it binds to HER2 is by increasing p27, a protein that halts cell proliferation.cite journal |author=XF Le, Franz Pruefer, Robert Bast.|title=HER2-targeting antibodies modulate the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 via multiple signaling pathways.|journal= Cell Cycle |volume= 4 |issue= 1 |pages= 87–95 |year= 2005 |pmid= 15611642]

The HER2 gene overexpression can be suppressed by the amplification of other genes and the use of the drug Herceptin. Research is currently being conducted to discover which disregulated genes may have this desired effect. Another monoclonal antibody, Pertuzumab [http://www.healthvalue.net/EGFR-engl.html] , which inhibits dimerization of HER2 and HER3 receptors, is in advanced clinical trials.

References

Further reading

PBB_Further_reading
citations =
*cite journal | author=Ross JS, Fletcher JA, Linette GP, "et al." |title=The Her-2/neu gene and protein in breast cancer 2003: biomarker and target of therapy. |journal=Oncologist |volume=8 |issue= 4 |pages= 307–25 |year= 2003 |pmid= 12897328 |doi=
*cite journal | author=Zhou BP, Hung MC |title=Dysregulation of cellular signaling by HER2/neu in breast cancer. |journal=Semin. Oncol. |volume=30 |issue= 5 Suppl 16 |pages= 38–48 |year= 2003 |pmid= 14613025 |doi=
*cite journal | author=Ménard S, Casalini P, Campiglio M, "et al." |title=Role of HER2/neu in tumor progression and therapy. |journal=Cell. Mol. Life Sci. |volume=61 |issue= 23 |pages= 2965–78 |year= 2005 |pmid= 15583858 |doi= 10.1007/s00018-004-4277-7
*cite journal | author=Becker JC, Muller-Tidow C, Serve H, "et al." |title=Role of receptor tyrosine kinases in gastric cancer: new targets for a selective therapy. |journal=World J. Gastroenterol. |volume=12 |issue= 21 |pages= 3297–305 |year= 2006 |pmid= 16733844 |doi=
*cite journal | author=Laudadio J, Quigley DI, Tubbs R, Wolff DJ |title=HER2 testing: a review of detection methodologies and their clinical performance. |journal=Expert Rev. Mol. Diagn. |volume=7 |issue= 1 |pages= 53–64 |year= 2007 |pmid= 17187484 |doi= 10.1586/14737159.7.1.53
*cite journal | author=Bianchi F, Tagliabue E, Ménard S, Campiglio M |title=Fhit expression protects against HER2-driven breast tumor development: unraveling the molecular interconnections. |journal=Cell Cycle |volume=6 |issue= 6 |pages= 643–6 |year= 2007 |pmid= 17374991 |doi=

External links

* [http://www.aacr.org/home/public--media/for-the-media/fact-sheets/cancer-concepts/her2.aspx AACR Cancer Concepts Factsheet on HER2]
* [http://logikbase.com/website/techprofile.cfm?licid=1027 Her2/neu Vaccine Protects Against Tumor Growth ]
* [http://logikbase.com/website/techprofile.cfm?licid=618 Chimeric molecules and Methods of Use]
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