Immunotherapy for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Changing the Paradigm

AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo summarize and discuss the available evidence and ongoing efforts in order to establish the efficacy and safety of immunotherapeutic approaches in HER2-positive breast cancer.Recent FindingsThe introduction into the clinic of anti-HER2 –targeted therapies more than 15 years ago resulted in a substantial improvement in the outcome of patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. However, only patients with the highest levels of HER2 expression will potentially benefit from these therapies and, unfortunately, many patients prog ress or relapse after optimal treatment. As metastatic breast cancer remains an incurable disease, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to improve clinical outcomes in these patients. Immunotherapy is emerging as a new treatment modality in breast cancer. Although it has long been regarded as a non-immunogenic disease, new preclinical and clinical studies have emphasized the therapeutic potential of the use of anti-HER2 therapies in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors in improving outcomes in breast cancer patients.SummaryEmerging results from clinical trials evaluating immunotherapeutic agents, either as monotherapy or in combination with anti-HER2 –targeted therapies, are showing promising results in the management of HER2-positive breast cancer.
Source: Current Breast Cancer Reports - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research