Recent progress in immunotherapy of breast cancer targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)

J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2021 Jul;27(5):1235-1244. doi: 10.1177/1078155221991636. Epub 2021 Feb 2.

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer is responsible for most of the cancer-induced deaths in women around the world. The current review will discuss different approaches of targeting HER2, an epidermal growth factor overexpressed in 30% of breast cancer cases.

Data sources: We conducted a search on Pubmed and Scopus databases to find studies relevant to HER2+ breast cancers and targeting HER2 as means of immunotherapy. Out of 1043 articles, 105 studies were included in this review.

Data summary: As well as the introduction of HER2 and breast cancer subtypes, we discussed various aspects of HER2-targeting immunotherapy including monoclonal antibodies, Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells and vaccines.

Conclusions: Despite several ways of controlling breast cancer, the need to investigate new drugs and approaches seems to be much significant as this cancer still has a heavy burden on people's health and survival.

Keywords: ErbB-2; Receptor; breast neoplasms; immunotherapy; trastuzumab; vaccines.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates / administration & dosage
  • Immunotherapy / methods*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases
  • ERBB2 protein, human