Anti-HER2 therapies and gastric cancer

Authors and affiliations:
Ramon Andrade de Mello, MD, PhD ,1 - Serviço de Oncologia Médica - IPO do Porto 2 - Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto 3 - Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Universidade do Algarve, Faro

Andrea Marin Marques, MD, 1 - Centro Hospitalar Médio Ave, Unidade Santo Tirso, Porto, Portugal António Araújo, MD, PhD 1 - Serviço de Oncologia Médica - IPO do Porto

Abstract:
Gastric cancer usually is diagnosed in advanced stages and thus current medical practice affords limited therapeutic options. However, recent studies established the role of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in clinical management. Trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, acquired a main role in advanced gastric cancer harboring HER2 overexpression and/or amplification improving survival to 17.1 mo according to trastuzumab for gastric cancer phase III trial results. Also, new promising drugs, such as c-Met inhibitors, are in development and assessment for this setting. Certainly, novel drugs will emerge in the next feel years for help oncologists improve clinical management of advanced gastric cancer providing higher survival and quality of life. In this mini-review we will discuss some issues in this regard and provide an actual overview of this setting.

Journal:
World Journal of Gastroenterology

Link:
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v19/i37/6165.htm