The human epidermal receptors in gastric cancer: molecular alterations and its role as therapeutic targets

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide; both environmental and genetic factors are involved in the etiology of this neoplasia. The human epidermal receptor (HER) pathway is essential for proliferation and differentiation of normal cells; but it is also implicated in the growth of cancer cells. In this work we investigate the molecular alterations in genes that encodes for HER receptors reported in GC, as well the role as therapeutic targets. We reviewed the literature reported to date regarding overexpression of HER-receptors, amplification and somatic mutations in ERBB genes occurred in gastric tumors, as well as the anti-HER therapies tested for treatment of GC. In GC, the overexpression of HER family is reported in a range of 12-87% of cases; up to 67% of cases with amplification, and 90 somatic mutations in ERBB genes. The only drug anti-HER approved for using combined with chemotherapy, in treatment of patients with advanced GC is trastuzumab; however, other targeted therapies are being investigated. The role of the HER family as a therapeutic target has not shown significant improvements in recent years; hence, further studies are required to find better options for treatment of GC.