The role of irreversible pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of HER2-Positive metastatic breast cancer

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is the leading cause of cancer death in women. For patients with HER2-positive MBC, after the failure of multiple lines of treatment, there is no optimal line of therapy. A series of clinical trials confirmed that treatment with irreversible pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in combination with chemotherapy significantly improves patients' survival outcomes. This review focuses on the pathogenesis of HER2-positive breast cancer, current standard treatments, mechanisms of approved irreversible TKIs, and key clinical trials. The available findings suggest that irreversible pan-HER TKIs, such as pyrotinib and neratinib, in combination with chemotherapy, represent a beneficial salvage therapy for patients with HER2-positive MBC with manageable toxicity. However, further studies are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of this combination therapy.

Automated summary

HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women, and there is currently no optimal line of therapy after multiple treatment failures. Clinical trials have shown that treatment with irreversible pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy significantly improves survival outcomes. Available findings suggest that irreversible pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as pyrotinib and neratinib, in combination with chemotherapy, may represent a beneficial salvage therapy for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.