Structural basis for driving HER2-addicted cancer cells into apoptosis

Patients do already benefit from several anti-HER2 drugs like the monoclonal antibodies trastuzumab (Herceptin®) and pertuzumab (Perjeta®), which have been shown in vitro to act only as a cytostatic agent, but not as a cytotoxic agent.

New HER2-binders employing alternative mechanisms to abolish HER2-dependent signaling and causing cytotoxic effects could expand and complement existing anti-HER2 therapies.