About 30% of human breast cancers are human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 （HER2）＋. This particular biological portrait is characterized by the overexpression of HER2 receptor with the subsequent deregulation o...About 30% of human breast cancers are human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 （HER2）＋. This particular biological portrait is characterized by the overexpression of HER2 receptor with the subsequent deregulation of downstream pathways, which control cellular survival and proliferation. The most effective treatment for HER2＋ cancer is represented by therapy with HER2-targeted agents. Anti-HER2 therapy dramatically improves clini-cal outcomes, although it shows some limitations in achieving a proper treatment. These drawbacks of HER2-targeted therapy may be overcome with the develop-ment of HER2-targeted drug delivery nanodevices. These nanoparticles possess an internal three-dimensional com-partimentalization, which allows to combine the specifc target recognition with their capability to act as a drug reservoir for the selective delivery of chemotherapics to tumor sites. Moreover, nanoparticles useful in photo-thermal ablation or in photodynamic therapy have been functionalized in order to match specifcity in tumor cell recognition and suitable chemical properties. Here, we summarize the state of the art concerning the HER2＋ breast cancer and anti-HER2 therapy, in particular deep-ening the contribution of the nanomedicine. Description of preclinical studies performed with HER2-targeted nanoparticles for HER2＋ breast cancer therapy will be preceded by an overview on HER2-targeting molecules and nano-conjugation strategies. Further investigation will be necessary to introduce these nano-drugs in clinical prac-tice; however promising results encourage an upcoming translation of this research for the next future.展开更多
文摘About 30% of human breast cancers are human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 （HER2）＋. This particular biological portrait is characterized by the overexpression of HER2 receptor with the subsequent deregulation of downstream pathways, which control cellular survival and proliferation. The most effective treatment for HER2＋ cancer is represented by therapy with HER2-targeted agents. Anti-HER2 therapy dramatically improves clini-cal outcomes, although it shows some limitations in achieving a proper treatment. These drawbacks of HER2-targeted therapy may be overcome with the develop-ment of HER2-targeted drug delivery nanodevices. These nanoparticles possess an internal three-dimensional com-partimentalization, which allows to combine the specifc target recognition with their capability to act as a drug reservoir for the selective delivery of chemotherapics to tumor sites. Moreover, nanoparticles useful in photo-thermal ablation or in photodynamic therapy have been functionalized in order to match specifcity in tumor cell recognition and suitable chemical properties. Here, we summarize the state of the art concerning the HER2＋ breast cancer and anti-HER2 therapy, in particular deep-ening the contribution of the nanomedicine. Description of preclinical studies performed with HER2-targeted nanoparticles for HER2＋ breast cancer therapy will be preceded by an overview on HER2-targeting molecules and nano-conjugation strategies. Further investigation will be necessary to introduce these nano-drugs in clinical prac-tice; however promising results encourage an upcoming translation of this research for the next future.
