Whitney L. Hensing, a prominent researcher from the University of Missouri KC School of Medicine, delves into the newly recognized category of HER2-low breast cancer. She discusses how this evolved classification impacts treatment decisions, particularly the role of novel therapies like antibody drug conjugates. Hensing highlights the significance of ongoing research improving diagnostics and access to therapies for this patient group, revealing a new frontier in breast cancer management that could change lives.
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insights INSIGHT
HER2-Low Breast Cancer: A New Category
HER2-low breast cancer has a unique classification, impacting treatment strategies.
It's defined by HER2 protein expression too low to be HER2-positive (IHC score 1+ or 2+ without gene amplification).
insights INSIGHT
HER2-Low: A Therapeutic Category
HER2-low breast cancer is not a distinct biological subtype but a therapeutic category.
This helps identify patients who may benefit from HER2-directed treatments.
insights INSIGHT
Challenges in Defining HER2-Low Tumors
Diagnosing HER2-low tumors is challenging due to testing variability between HER2 0 and 1+.
HER2 expression can also change over time, raising questions about retesting frequency.
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For years, breast cancer has been classified as either HER2-positive or HER2-negative, determining whether a patient could receive HER2-targeted therapies like trastuzumab (Herceptin). However, a growing body of research suggests a middle category—HER2-low breast cancer—which has led to important changes in how clinicians approach treatment.
A recent review published in Oncotarget, titled “Evolving Concepts in HER2-Low Breast Cancer: Genomic Insights, Definitions, and Treatment Paradigms,” explores what this means for both patients and clinicians.
Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2025/02/12/her2-low-breast-cancer-a-new-understanding/
Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28680
Correspondence to - Andrew A. Davis - aadavis@wustl.edu
Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn54UrHCUNQ
Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28680
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Keywords - cancer, breast cancer, HER2-low, genomics
About Oncotarget
Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science.
Oncotarget is indexed and archived by PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central, Scopus, EMBASE, META (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative) (2018-2022), and Dimensions (Digital Science).
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