Receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2, also known as CD340 (cluster of differentiation 340), proto-oncogene Neu, Erbb2 (rodent), or ERBB2 (human), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ERBB2 gene. ERBB is abbreviated from erythroblastic oncogene B, a gene isolated from the avian genome. It is also frequently called HER2 (from human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) or HER2/neu.
These receptors are proteins that are embedded in the cell membrane and communicate molecular signals from outside the cell (molecules called EGFs) to inside the cell and turn genes on and off. The HER protein, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, binds to Human Epidermal Growth Factor and stimulates cell proliferation. In some cancers, notably certain types of breast cancer, HER2 is over-expressed and causes cancer cells to reproduce uncontrollably.
HER2 is a member of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER/EGFR/ERBB) family. Amplification or over-expression of this oncogene has been shown to play an important role in the development and progression of certain aggressive types of breast cancer. In recent years the protein has become an important biomarker and target of therapy for approximately 30% of breast cancer patients.
see HER2-positive intracranial metastases.
Liu et al. from Qingdao elucidated the mutation spectrum of HER2-positive resectable Chinese GA patients and the association between HER2 CN and DFS. The work revealed HER2 CN as an independent risk factor that predicted unfavorable prognosis in HER2-positive GA patients and allowed to further stratify HER2-positive resectable GA patients for disease management 1)