Ovarian cancer with high-level focal ERBB2 amplification responds to trastuzumab and pertuzumab

Abstract

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage and significantly contributes to cancer mortality in women. Despite multimodal treatment associating chemotherapy and surgery, most patients ultimately progress and require palliative systemic therapy.In EOC, the efficacy of anti-HER2 agents is minimal even after selecting patients for HER2 expression. ERBB2 gene amplification is observed in 3–10% of patients, depending on the specific method of detection and cutoffs. We report the case of a young woman with a FIGO stage IV high-grade serous ovarian cancer with an amplification of ERBB2. She was treated with the association of trastuzumab – pertuzumab after two lines of standard treatment and presented an excellent long-lasting partial response after 36 months of treatment.The association of trastuzumab and pertuzumab, without chemotherapy, has not been previously tested in this context and could be more efficacious than monotherapy with either agent. In addition, the significant benefit observed in this case could be attributed to the presence of a high-level focal amplification that is relatively rare and probably more specific than an increase in HER2 expression. In conclusion, prospective trials of the trastuzumab and pertuzumab combination should be considered in an appropriately selected EOC patient population.

Keywords

• Ovarian cancer
• ERBB2 amplification
• Trastuzumab
• Pertuzumab
• Precision oncology