Targeting HER2 Positive Breast Cancer with Chemopreventive Agents.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer is a subtype of breast cancer that is exhibited in approximately 20-30% of breast cancer cases. The overexpression of HER2 is typically associated with a more aggressive disease and poor prognosis. Currently, the therapeutic drugs trastuzumab and lapatinib are the most commonly used to combat HER2+ breast cancer. However, tumors can develop resistance to these drugs. A better understanding of the mechanism of how HER2+ breast cancer works will help aid the development for new therapeutic approaches which more closely target the source of the signaling dysfunction. This review summarizes four major points in the context of HER2 over-expressing breast cancer (i) HER2 as a molecular target in breast cancer therapy, (ii) current treatment options as well as ongoing clinical studies, (iii) animal and cellular models for the study of HER2 over-expressing breast cancer, and (iv) future therapies and chemopreventive agents used to target HER2+ breast cancer.