Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a human oncogene that is amplified
in approximately 20% of breast cancers, and portends a worse prognosis if not treated
with anti-HER2 agents. The advent of targeted anti-HER2 therapies has dramatically
improved disease control and survival in patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast
cancer, and is now considered standard of care in the first-line setting and beyond.
This review summarizes the currently available data on targeted anti-HER2 therapies
from completed randomized phase III clinical trials, and briefly discusses emerging
advances that will address unmet needs in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.
