Potential of afatinib in the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer

摘要: In the absence of treatment, overexpression human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) predicts a poor prognosis in breast cancer. last decade, monoclonal antibodies and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors have significantly improved outcome HER2-positive cancer patients. However, tumor resistance toxicities often limit use these therapies. For this reason, there is compelling need for further investigation new targeted therapies, such as afatinib, an oral irreversible pan inhibitor (EGFR) family. This compound covalently interacts with domains, which are deeply involved signal transduction leading to cell proliferation protection from apoptosis. Afatinib has been studied several Phase I clinical trials advanced solid tumors. These shown encouraging activity manageable side effects when afatinib used either single agent or combination chemotherapy, cutaneous adverse events diarrhea being most frequently observed toxicities. review will focus on afatinib's discuss ongoing studies scenario different HER2-targeted it be important define best specific "molecular" setting use, trying identify predictors response. Moreover, ability cross blood-brain barrier, could play role patients brain metastases