Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) inhibitors are either tyrosine kinase inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies that slow down or stop cell growth.
Human epidermal growth factor receptors are transmembrane receptors; they have an extracellular binding component, a transmembrane component and an intracellular tyrosine kinase component. Some breast cancers have an over-expression of HER2 resulting in increased cell growth and spread of cancer cells.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors bind to the tyrosine kinase domain in the HER2 and stops activation of the signaling pathway. Monoclonal antibodies bind to the extracellular component of the HER2, prevent the actual substrates from binding to the receptors and stop the receptor activation.
HER2 inhibitors are used in the treatment of breast cancer.