HER2-Driven Breast Cancer: Role of the Chaperonin HSP90 in Modulating Response to Trastuzumab-Based Therapeutic Combinations. (PubMed, Int J Mol Sci)
In HER2+ breast cancer models (AU565, BT474, MCF7-HER2), HER2 downregulation induced HSP90 upregulation and growth inhibitory synergism between trastuzumab and docetaxel...Conversely, HSP90 downregulation blunted the therapeutic response to trastuzumab/pertuzumab/tamoxifen or trastuzumab-emtansine. In HER2+ breast cancer patients, high HSP90 expression was associated with significant progression-free survival benefit with the triple combination, as compared with trastuzumab and chemotherapy, although the interaction test was not statistically significant. Overall, our results highlight a mechanistic role for HSP90 in determining the response of breast cancer cells to HER2-targeted agents and suggest that trastuzumab/pertuzumab combinations may be particularly advantageous in HSP90-high, HER2+ breast cancer.