Immune Effects of Trastuzumab

Marianna Nuti^✉, Filippo Bellati, Valeria Visconti, Chiara Napoletano, Lavinia Domenici, Jlenia Caccetta, Ilaria Grazia Zizzari, Ilary Ruscito, Hassan Rahimi, Pierluigi Benedetti-Panici, Aurelia Rughetti

“Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy

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Citation:
Nuti M, Bellati F, Visconti V, Napoletano C, Domenici L, Caccetta J, Zizzari IG, Ruscito I, Rahimi H, Benedetti-Panici P, Rughetti A. Immune Effects of Trastuzumab. J Cancer 2011; 2:317-323. doi:10.7150/jca.2.317. Available from http://www.jcancer.org/v02p0317.htm

Abstract

Trastuzumab's targeted therapy has become a stronghold for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer patients. This humanized monoclonal antibody binds to the extracellular juxta-membrane domain of HER2 and inhibits the proliferation and survival of HER2 dependent cancer cells. The ways by which this molecule exerts its action have been partially elucidated but several new mechanisms are being constantly identified. Several new agents are being introduced that interfere with HER2. Several new immunotherapy strategies are being introduced in order to direct the immune system against cells and tissues that aberrantly overexpressed HER2. We review the strategies currently adopted and those suggested against HER2 expressing tumors.

Keywords: autologous cells vaccines, Trastuzumab, HER2, Lapatinib, allo-vesicles