Trastazumab

  • antibody
  • breast cancer
  • human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2, aka ErbB2)
  • receptor tyrosine kinase
  • two conformations:
    • tethered (self-protected)
    • extended; usually, once signal binds, the receptor opens up and can link with other receptors and initiate signaling; HER2 doesn’t need a signal so it can always be extended
  • her2
  • trastuzumab
  • resistance develops
  • pertuzumab is another antibody
  • binds away from the membrane and prevents heterodimerization with HER3
  • see PDB 1s78