[Trastuzumab - a monoclonal antibody - and dendrimers in a targeted therapy for breast cancer].

Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in women. It has been confirmed that approximately 30% of patients have overexpression of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) on the surface of tumor cells. Trastuzumab - a recombinant, humanized monoclonal antibody - is directed against this receptor. Its use in traditional chemotherapy (with anthracyclines or taxanes) causes an increase of therapy efficiency. However, the systemic toxicity of the anticancer drugs is still a serious problem. Therefore, new solutions are sought, especially in the field of selective drug transport to tumor cells. Dendrimers are composed of a core and branches. They are the bestknown group of nanoparticles. A lot of publications have shown that they can be used as carriers of various types of molecules, including anticancer drugs. The branched structure provides effective protection against premature release of the drug into the circulatory system. It gives a chance to reduce the dose while maintaining a therapeutic effect, and to reduce the toxicity of the drug for normal cells. Furthermore, the surface of dendrimers can be modified by a monoclonal antibody to achieve a targeted therapy. For that reason synthesis of conjugates of trastuzumab, dendrimers, and anticancer drugs is so crucial. This paper presents an overview of publications about the use of trastuzumab in in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies, as well as the latest developments of biology and chemistry, whose goal is to create the perfect, targeted carrier.