Crosstalk between oxidative stress signaling and HER2 pathway in Breast Cancer

Abstract

About 20% of breast cancer patients overexpress the Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor-2 (HER2), also known as ErbB2. HER2-overexpression is associated with enhanced tumor malignancy and its overexpression is related to specific target therapy against breast tumors and other cancers. HER2-mediated pathways in tumor cells act on behalf of the tumor conferring aggressive characteristics. Several reports demonstrated the occurrence of toxicity during the anti-HER2 therapy and this fact has been associated with the generation of reactive species and oxidative stress. However, the link between HER2 and oxidative stress signaling is still poorly understood. The aim of this review is to point out the interplay between oxidative stress and HER2 signaling in breast cancer. An overview regarding HER2 biology and oxidative stress pathways is provided with a special focus in studies that implicate on HER2-generation of reactive species and oxidative stress during trastuzumab-based treatments.