Pertuzumab-a HER-2 dimerisation inhibitor-for the treatment of Breast and other Cancers

Pertuzumab is a recombinant humanised monoclonal antibody targeting the extracellular domain of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) to block HER-2 dimerisation with other HER family members. Preclinical pertuzumab data showed activity in a number of solid tumour types, and synergistic or additive activity was also observed when pertuzumab was combined with chemotherapy or with other targeted agents, including trastuzumab and erlotinib. Pertuzumab has also been studied in the clinical setting, both as monotherapy and in combination with other agents in a variety of tumoucr types. Following encouraging results of a Phase II trial of pertuzumab and trastuzumab in patients with HER-2-positive metastatic breast cancer, this indication has become the focus of attention for further investigation.