A Signature for Trastuzumab Benefit in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer?

A greater understanding of immune response to tumor cells has led to the development of novel therapeutic agents that improve the outcome of patients with lung cancer and melanoma. These immune-checkpoint inhibitors are also being evaluated in other malignancies including breast cancer. Additionally, the presence or absence of intratumoral or stromal lymphocytes has been linked to prognosis. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are found with greater frequency in HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer, and their presence is associated with a better prognosis. Now, data is emerging that immune signatures may be predictive, potentially allowing clinicians to identify breast cancer patients most likely to benefit from trastuzumab.

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