scholarly journals Diagnostic Value of Serum Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Extracellular Domain (HER2 ECD) Change in a Patient with Metastatic Recurrent Breast Cancer Resistant to Anti-HER2 Antibody Drugs: A Case Report

Author(s):  
Masahiro Mise ◽  
Marika Nio ◽  
Shunichi Higaside ◽  
Yoshikuni Yonenaga ◽  
Yoshihiro Yata ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1399-1406
Author(s):  
Vittorio Gebbia ◽  
Dario Piazza ◽  
Maria Rosaria Valerio

Many cancer patients use integrative therapies with a combination of natural products and diets. In the Western world, integrative medicine is often not shared with oncologists even during antineoplastic treatments. This behavior stems from the unmet needs of cancer patients who may feel oncologists’ underestimation of their symptoms and spiritual aspects. This case report demonstrates the potential harm of inadequate diet and nutraceutical intake in a 68-year-old woman with metastatic estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative breast cancer. Her care team recommended hormone therapy with abemaciclib plus fulvestrant. Her diarrhea started after 10 days of therapy and did not disappear, despite the use of loperamide, causing a significant reduction in adherence and dose intensity of abemaciclib. The patient finally disclosed to her oncologist she was following a detoxifying diet and taking several nutraceuticals. Her diarrhea was correlated with abemaciclib but most probably exacerbated and prolonged by the diet. Evaluation of disease after 3 months showed progressive disease. Integrative medicine should be in the multidisciplinary management of cancer patients to avoid potentially harmful events and ameliorate patients’ quality of life in a holistic approach.


2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 360-370
Author(s):  
Ayumi Ryu ◽  
Jyun-ichi Ashimura ◽  
Takahiro Nakayama ◽  
Yasuhiro Tamaki ◽  
Shin-ichi Nakatsuka ◽  
...  

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of estrogen receptor (ER) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression levels in Cellprep® (CP). Study Design: We evaluated the stability of immunocytochemistry (ICC) of ER and HER2 for primary or recurrent breast cancer samples rinsed in CP vials. Samples were prepared from CP vials stored for 1–30 or 160–240 days. ER and HER2 statuses were determined after 1–30 days (26 and 25 tests, respectively) or 160–240 days (15 and 18 tests, respectively) with the same protocols as immunohistochemistry (IHC), and were compared with the corresponding surgically resected specimens. Results: ER statuses according to CP samples showed perfect agreement (1–30 days: kappa, κ = 1; 160–240 days: κ = 1). HER2 statuses also showed good agreement (1–30 days: κ = 0.79; 160–240 days: κ = 0.64), although there were more equivocal HER2 cases in CP than in the surgically resected specimens. Conclusion: ER ICC in CP vials is reliable regardless of the preservation period. HER2 ICC in CP has more equivocal cases than HER2 IHC in surgically resected specimens. Both improvement of the immunostaining protocol and further validation study of in situ hybridization are indispensable for the practical application of ICC in CP.


Author(s):  
Swathi R. Shetty ◽  
Ragini Yeeravalli ◽  
Tanya Bera ◽  
Amitava Das

: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a type-I transmembrane protein with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity is activated by peptide growth factors such as EGF, epigen, amphiregulin, etc. EGFR plays a vital role in regulating cell growth, migration, and differentiation in various tissue-specific cancers. It has been reported to be overexpressed in lung, head, and neck, colon, brain, pancreatic, and breast cancer that trigger tumor progression and drug resistance. EGFR overexpression alters the signaling pathway and induces cell division, invasion, and cell survival. Our prior studies demonstrated that EGFR inhibition modulates chemosensitivity in breast cancer stem cells thereby serving as a potential drug target for breast cancer mitigation. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Lapatinib, Neratinib) and monoclonal antibodies (Trastuzumab) targeting EGFR have been developed and approved by the US FDA for clinical use against breast cancer. This review highlights the critical role of EGFR in breast cancer progression and enumerates the various approaches being undertaken to inhibit aggressive breast cancers by suppressing the downstream pathways. Further, the mechanisms of action of potential molecules at various stages of drug development as well as clinically approved drugs for breast cancer treatment are illustrated.


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