Anti-HER

The anti-HERs belong to the signal transduction pathway inhibitor family. They are used particularly to treat some forms of breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer They are administered intravenously.

How do the anti-HERs work?

The anti-HERs are part of what specialists now call targeted therapies. They are used in patients whose tumour overexpresses the receptor for the gene coding for the HER2 protein (for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2), which is found on the cell membrane. In other words the tumour in question has a particularly large number of these receptors which "command" cell division. The treatments are monoclonal antibiotics which bind to the receptor and block cell proliferation.

Do they have contraindications or precautions?

Reactions with fever, headache and redness may develop immediately after administration. Hypersensitivity reactions may occasionally be severe with anaphylactic shock.

Sources:

• 47^th congress of theAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco), Chicago, 3-7 June 2011 ;
• Merck Manual, 4^th edition ;
• Interview with Dr Pierre-Jean Souquet (Lyon), 6 June 2011.