Immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with HER-2 targeted therapy in HER-2 positive gastroesophageal cancer

Adilai Aisa; Shanshan Weng; Xinyu Li; Ding Zhang; Ying Yuan

doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103864

Immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with HER-2 targeted therapy in HER-2 positive gastroesophageal cancer

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2022 Dec:180:103864. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103864. Epub 2022 Nov 1.

Authors

Adilai Aisa¹, Shanshan Weng¹, Xinyu Li¹, Ding Zhang¹, Ying Yuan²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China; Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
² Department of Medical Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China; Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China. Electronic address: yuanying1999@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 36332788
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103864

Abstract

GEC is one of the most common cancers and has become a significant health burden worldwide. HER-2 is a proto-oncogene, amplified or overexpressed in different tumors, and associated with a worse prognosis. Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy is the current standard treatment for advanced HER-2 positive GEC. However, it still does not benefit well all patients. HER-2 targeted therapy can up-regulate the expression of PD-1, CTL-4, and TAMs in the tumor microenvironment, strengthen the ADCC process, and enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. While immune checkpoint inhibitors could reduce drug resistance to anti-HER-2 drugs. Moreover, immunotherapy combined with HER-2 targeted therapy in HER-2 positive GEC has shown perceptible efficacy and acceptable side effects in clinical trials and is regarded as a new therapeutic strategy for GEC. However, there remain significant challenges and requires more research to improve the survival benefit of this therapeutic approach.

Keywords: Gastroesophageal cancer; HER-2; HER-2 targeted treatments; Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Immunotherapy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors*
Immunotherapy
Melanoma* / therapy
Trastuzumab / therapeutic use
Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Trastuzumab