Molecular imaging of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression

Front Biosci. 2008 Jan 1:13:790-805. doi: 10.2741/2720.

Abstract

The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) is a key member of the HER family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Activation of HER-2 affects cell growth, proliferation, migration, adhesion, and survival. Due to its crucial role in carcinogenesis and tumor progression, HER-2 has been intensively investigated as a target for cancer therapy. The ability to quantitatively image HER-2 expression in a noninvasive manner can aid in lesion detection, patient stratification, new drug development/validation, dose optimization, and treatment monitoring. This review summarizes the current state of understanding in multimodality imaging of HER-2 using positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), optical, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with HER-2 specific antibodies, antibody derivatives and affibodies as targeting ligands. Successful development of new HER-2 targeted imaging agents with optimal in vivo stability, targeting efficacy, and desirable pharmacokinetics for clinical translation will enable maximum benefit in cancer patient management.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • Diagnostic Imaging / instrumentation
  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / chemistry
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Mice
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / instrumentation
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / biosynthesis*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / chemistry
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / instrumentation
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / methods*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2