Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy (Apr 2023)
Can Patients with HER2-Low Breast Cancer Benefit from Anti-HER2 Therapies? A Review
Abstract
Jin Wang,1– 3,* Dongying Liao,1– 3,* Xuemin Zhang,1– 3 Changhong Miao,1– 3 Kuang Chen1– 3 1Department of Emergency, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, People’s Republic of China; 2National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 3Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Kuang Chen, Department of Emergency, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Anshanxi Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300193, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 18622150281, Email [email protected]: Breast cancer (BC) poses a severe threat to the health of women worldwide. Currently, different therapeutic regimens are used for BC according to the pathological classification of HER2-positive or HER2-negative. Clinical reports of HER2-low expression indicate that the condition is HER2-negative, which was ineligible for HER2-targeted therapy. In contrast to HER2-zero tumors, however, HER2-low BC is a heterogeneous disease with unique genetic characteristics, prognoses, and different therapeutic responses. Clinical efficacy has been demonstrated by numerous potent and innovative anti-HER2 medications, particularly antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). Certain ADCs, including T-DXd, have demonstrated good efficacy in some trials either used alone or in conjunction with other medications. To enhance outcomes in individuals with HER2-low BC, immunotherapy and other treatments are frequently combined with HER2-targeted therapy. There are also alternative strategies that target both HER2 and HER3 or other antigenic sites. We hope more individuals with HER2-low BC will benefit from more precise treatment regimens in the future. This article provides a review of existing research and clinical trials.Keywords: HER2-low breast cancer, monoclonal antibodies, antibody–drug conjugates, trastuzumab deruxtecan, immunotherapy
