scholarly journals Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is a potential therapeutic target in extramammary Paget’s disease of the vulva

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 1672-1677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Bartoletti ◽  
Roberta Mazzeo ◽  
Marco De Scordilli ◽  
Anna Del Fabro ◽  
Maria Grazia Vitale ◽  
...  

BackgroundInvasive vulvar Paget’s disease with over-expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein is potentially suitable for targeted therapy, especially in a metastatic setting where no effective treatments are available.MethodsFour consecutive patients with HER2 positive advanced vulvar Paget’s disease, treated with weekly trastuzumab (loading dose 4 mg/kg, then 2 mg/kg) and paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) followed by 3-weekly trastuzumab maintenance (6 mg/kg), are reported.ResultsMedian age and follow-up of patients were 62.5 years (45–74) and 16 months (6-54), respectively. Complete or partial responses were observed in all patients. Median time to response was 3 months (range 2–4), while median duration of response was 10 months (range 2–34). Case 1 presented with pulmonary and lymph nodes involvement. She experienced a radiological complete response after 24 treatment administrations, and a progression-free survival of 36 months. At disease progression, treatment re-challenge achieved partial response. She is currently receiving treatment with trastuzumab–emtansine. Case 2 was a 74-year-old woman who developed pulmonary metastasis after first-line cisplatin treatment. She had a partial response and a progression-free survival of 10 months. Case 3 had inguinal and para-aortic lymphadenopathy in complete response after 18 treatment administrations. She developed brain metastasis while receiving trastuzumab maintenance. Case 4 was treated for locally advanced disease and experienced a subjective benefit with relief in perineal pain and itching. No unexpected treatment-related side effects were reported.ConclusionsAdvanced vulvar Paget’s disease is a rare disorder and no standard treatment is available. In the sub-group of HER2 positive disease, weekly paclitaxel–trastuzumab appears to be active and safe, and may be considered a therapeutic option in these patients.

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (31) ◽  
pp. 4722-4729 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Sampson ◽  
Amy B. Heimberger ◽  
Gary E. Archer ◽  
Kenneth D. Aldape ◽  
Allan H. Friedman ◽  
...  

Purpose Immunologic targeting of tumor-specific gene mutations may allow precise eradication of neoplastic cells without toxicity. Epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) is a constitutively activated and immunogenic mutation not expressed in normal tissues but widely expressed in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and other neoplasms. Patients and Methods A phase II, multicenter trial was undertaken to assess the immunogenicity of an EGFRvIII-targeted peptide vaccine and to estimate the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of vaccinated patients with newly diagnosed EGFRvIII-expressing GBM with minimal residual disease. Intradermal vaccinations were given until toxicity or tumor progression was observed. Sample size was calculated to differentiate between PFS rates of 20% and 40% 6 months after vaccination. Results There were no symptomatic autoimmune reactions. The 6-month PFS rate after vaccination was 67% (95% CI, 40% to 83%) and after diagnosis was 94% (95% CI, 67% to 99%; n = 18). The median OS was 26.0 months (95% CI, 21.0 to 47.7 months). After adjustment for age and Karnofsky performance status, the OS of vaccinated patients was greater than that observed in a control group matched for eligibility criteria, prognostic factors, and temozolomide treatment (hazard ratio, 5.3; P = .0013; n = 17). The development of specific antibody (P = .025) or delayed-type hypersensitivity (P = .03) responses to EGFRvIII had a significant effect on OS. At recurrence, 82% (95% CI, 48% to 97%) of patients had lost EGFRvIII expression (P < .001). Conclusion EGFRvIII-targeted vaccination in patients with GBM warrants investigation in a phase III, randomized trial.


ABOUTOPEN ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-115
Author(s):  
Raffaele Ardito ◽  
Fiorella Restaino Marino

Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) oncoprotein in breast cancer patients, is one of the biological characteristics of the disease that determines the choice of appropriate systemic treatment. We report the case of a 41-year-old woman, with relapsing HER2-positive breast cancer in cerebral and pulmonary cells. The patient underwent multimodal first Iine treatment including pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel and panencephalic radiotherapy with good response and progression-free survival for approximately 16 months. Subsequently, further to a encephalic progression of the disease, the patient was treated in second line with the combination lapatinib + capecitabine which induced further encephalic response and disease control for additional 20 months (Oncology).


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-130
Author(s):  
Giuliano Palumbo ◽  
Giovanna Giovanna Esposito ◽  
Guido Carillio ◽  
Anna Manzo ◽  
Agnese Montanino ◽  
...  

Abstract Several preclinical studies suggested a potential benefit from combined treatment with inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and angiogenesis, both effective in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In pretreated patients with advanced EGFR wild type NSCLC, bevacizumab plus erlotinib improved progression-free survival as second-line therapy in the BeTa study and as maintenance therapy in the ATLAS trial, although the benefit was modest and did not translate into an advantage in overall survival. Disappointing results were reported with oral VEGF inhibitors plus erlotinib in pretreated patients with EGFR wild type NSCLC. On the contrary, erlotinib plus bevacizumab or ramucirumab showed a clinically relevant improvement of progression-free survival in naïve patients with EGFR mutations, leading to the approval of these two regimens as first-line treatment of NSCLC patients with EGFR mutant tumors. Several clinical studies are evaluating the feasibility and activity of osimertinib plus bevacizumab or ramucirumab. However, limits that could affect its use in clinical practice are the need of an intravenous infusion for angiogenesis inhibitors, the increased incidence of treatment associated adverse events, the exclusion of patients with tumors located in central position or at risk of hemorrhage. The identification of predictive biomarkers is an important goal of research to optimize the combined use of these agents. Keywords Lung cancer, angiogenesis, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, erlotinib, bevacizumab


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20622-e20622
Author(s):  
G. Okunade ◽  
A. R. Green ◽  
M. Ying ◽  
A. Agrawal ◽  
E. C. Paish ◽  
...  

e20622 Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been shown to be superior to tamoxifen in several settings. However, it is unclear whether this superiority extends to its use as primary endocrine therapy in elderly patients with early operable primary breast cancer. Biological characteristics of the tumours may aid in selecting the most suitable agent. Methods: Primary endocrine therapy with one of the AIs (anastrozole) in 64 women >70 years with ERα+ breast cancer was compared to that in 84 treated with tamoxifen during the same period. Their selection was entirely based on contraindications e.g. thromboembolic risks. Needle core biopsies were assessed, by immunohistochemistry, for expression of biomarkers as described below. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups (anastrozole vs tamoxifen) in terms of response at 6 months (clinical benefit (objective response + stable disease) rates = 97 vs 100%, p=0.099) or progression free survival (median = 16.5 vs 22.5 months, p=0.376). There were no withdrawals due to side effects from anastrozole, compared to four with tamoxifen. For all patients progesterone receptor (PgR), ERβ2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Ki-67 were over-expressed in 48%, 99%, 8%, 4% and 64% respectively. HER2 (18 vs 21 months, p=0.003) and Ki-67 (17.5 vs 23 months, p=0.042) over-expression were significantly associated with shorter progression free survival. Conclusions: These results thus far show that primary endocrine therapy with anastrozole in elderly patients with early operable ERα+ breast cancer is similar to tamoxifen in terms of efficacy, but may be better tolerated. In this population, ERα+ breast cancer also appears to have a less aggressive biological profile favouring better hormone sensitivity. [Table: see text]


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document