HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - JOE at SABCS: question regarding HER2 vaccine

Becky · 12-18-2006, 12:27 PM

Dear Dace

A missing or truncated version of the extra cellular domain is not the only reason Herceptin resistance (either that it doesn't work or fails to continue working). It could be a reason but other resistance pathways can be involved (such as other receptors being positive that we don't know about - even in the case of Tykerb, one could be strongly Her1+ as well and it is well documented at SABCS this year that Tykerb is a very weak Her1 inhibitor. There are no documented cases of even a partial response with Tykerb if one is only Her1+. One must be Her2+ for it to work).

Therefore, in answer to your specific question - no, it does not mean you have a missing or different extra cellular domain of Her2 (as the only reason Herceptin did not work in your case).

12-18-2006, 12:27 PM	#6
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Dear Dace A missing or truncated version of the extra cellular domain is not the only reason Herceptin resistance (either that it doesn't work or fails to continue working). It could be a reason but other resistance pathways can be involved (such as other receptors being positive that we don't know about - even in the case of Tykerb, one could be strongly Her1+ as well and it is well documented at SABCS this year that Tykerb is a very weak Her1 inhibitor. There are no documented cases of even a partial response with Tykerb if one is only Her1+. One must be Her2+ for it to work). Therefore, in answer to your specific question - no, it does not mean you have a missing or different extra cellular domain of Her2 (as the only reason Herceptin did not work in your case). __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"