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The Evolving Landscape of HER2-Directed Breast Cancer Therapy

  • Breast Cancer (WJ Gradishar, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

The management of patients with HER2+ breast cancer has evolved significantly over the preceding decades. HER2 targeting strategies have advanced beyond focusing on the receptor alone to encompass a range of approaches. Current standard of care practices in these patients relies upon dual HER2 blockade with trastuzumab and pertuzumab in the adjuvant and metastatic settings. T-DM1 has proven particularly efficacious in patients with residual disease status post neoadjuvant therapy, with additional therapies approved in the subsequent lines to address recurrent and resistant disease. Advances continue to be made in HER2+ breast cancer with multiple novel agents on the horizon, employing diverse mechanisms of action that are described in this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Juan Luis Gomez Marti MD

  2. University of Pittsburgh Physicians, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Tara Hyder MD

  3. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA

    Azadeh Nasrazadani MD PhD

  4. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Magee Women’s Hospital, Suite 4628, 300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Adam M. Brufsky MD PhD

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  1. Juan Luis Gomez Marti MD
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Correspondence to Adam M. Brufsky MD PhD.

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Juan Luis Gomez Marti declares that he has no conflict of interest. Tara Hyder declares that she has no conflict of interest. Azadeh Nasrazadani declares that she has no conflict of interest. Adam M. Brufsky has received compensation from Roche, Novartis, Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Puma for service as a consultant.

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Marti, J.L.G., Hyder, T., Nasrazadani, A. et al. The Evolving Landscape of HER2-Directed Breast Cancer Therapy. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 21, 82 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-020-00780-6

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