Systematic Review of the Side Effects Associated With Anti-HER2-Targeted Therapies Used in the Treatment of Breast Cancer, on Behalf of the EORTC Quality of Life Group

Abstract

This systematic review provides a detailed analysis of side effects of HER2+ therapies in a large number of patients included in trials, enabling an accurate estimate of prevalence and a complete understanding of the patients' experience. This will help clinicians and patients in treatment planning.

Preclinical Activity of HER2-Selective Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Tucatinib as a Single Agent or in Combination with Trastuzumab or Docetaxel in Solid Tumor Models

“…These preclinical results and early clinical data support the hypothesis that selective inhibition of HER2 activity by tucatinib, in the absence of EGFR inhibition, can be an effective therapeutic approach in HER2 þ cancers. This is an important point since currently available small-molecule TKI therapies for HER2 þ breast cancer are equipotent HER2 and EGFR inhibitors, and are associated with skin and gastrointestinal toxicities that may reduce patient quality-of-life (24,25,(39)(40)(41)(42)(43). Although EGFR is expressed in HER2 þ cancers (44), the role of EGFR expression in the outcome of metastatic patients treated with trastuzumab regimens is unclear (45).…”

“…Currently, approved treatments for patients with HER2 þ breast cancer include mAb therapies, such as trastuzumab and pertuzumab, the antibody-drug conjugate adotrastuzumab emtansine, and the small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) lapatinib and neratinib (3,(19)(20)(21). Both lapatinib and neratinib demonstrate nearly equipotent inhibition of EGFR and HER2 (22,23), which is thought to contribute to high frequencies of dermatologic and gastrointestinal adverse events (AE), necessitating dose interruptions and modifications (24,25).…”

Induction of G2M Arrest by Flavokawain A, a Kava Chalcone, Increases the Responsiveness of HER2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer Cells to Herceptin

“…Conventional chemo-/radio-therapies for breast cancer non-specifically cause deleterious effects to healthy tissues and have been associated with significant side effects, including cardiotoxicity [ 1 , 2 ]. In this regard, some phytochemicals are either part of the human diet or consumed as dietary supplements and do not show adverse health effects even at large doses [ 3 ].…”

Changes in Grip Strength and Associations with Grip Strength in Breast Cancer Survivors Treated with Adjuvant Chemotherapy

“…TT was frequently used as maintenance treatment after adjCTX, often delivered for long periods. 32 Although TT was rarely related to musculoskeletal complications, 32 long-term treatment could hinder participation in physical activity.…”