Herceptin.net

HER2-positive gastric cancer

 

Gastric cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.¹

 

Estimates of the proportion of gastric tumours that amplify/overexpress HER2 vary considerably; however, recent reports suggest that the overall level of HER2 positivity in gastric cancer is approximately 20%,^2-4 similar to that observed in breast cancer.

 

Tumors classified as intestinal type were significantly more likely to be HER2-positive than diffouse or mixed types, as shown in several studies.^4-6

 

Preclinical investigations have shown that Herceptin effectively suppresses the growth of HER2-overexpressing gastric cancer cell lines and human gastric cancer xenograft models, both as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapeutic agents.^7-9

 

On the basis of the preclinical data and the proven clinical benefit of Herceptin in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, the Phase III ToGA trial has been initiated to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Herceptin in the treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer.

 

References

1. Parkin DM et al. CA Cancer J Clin 2005; 55: 74-108.
2. Bang YJ et al. Poster 4526 presented at the 44th ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 30 May–3 June 2008.
3. Hofmann M et al. Histopathology 2008; 52: 797-805.
4. Tanner M et al. Ann Oncol 2005; 16: 273-278.
5. García I et al. Ann Surg Oncol 2003; 10: 234-241.
6. Kim MA et al. Hum Pathol 2007; 38: 1386-1393.
7. Fujimoto-Ouchi K et al. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2007; 59: 795-805.
8. Kim SY et al. Int J Oncol 2008; 32: 89-95.
9. Kono K et al. Cancer Res 2002; 62: 5813-5817.