Abstract |
Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2) occurs in 20-30% of breast cancers and confers survival and proliferative advantages on the tumour cells making HER-2 an ideal therapeutic target for drugs like Herceptin. Continued delineation of tumour biology has identified splice variants of HER-2, with contrasting roles in tumour cell biology. For example, the splice variant Δ16HER-2 (results from exon 16 skipping) increases transformation of cancer cells and is associated with treatment resistance; conversely, Herstatin (results from intron 8 retention) and p100 (results from intron 15 retention) inhibit tumour cell proliferation. This review focuses on the potential clinical implications of the expression and coexistence of HER-2 splice variants in cancer cells in relation to breast cancer progression and drug resistance. "Individualised" strategies currently guide breast cancer management; in accordance, HER-2 splice variants may prove valuable as future prognostic and predictive factors, as well as potential therapeutic targets.
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Authors | Claire Jackson, David Browell, Hannah Gautrey, Alison Tyson-Capper |
Journal | International journal of cell biology
(Int J Cell Biol)
Vol. 2013
Pg. 973584
( 2013)
ISSN: 1687-8876 [Print] United States |
PMID | 23935627
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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