ReviewMechanismInconclusiveLimited evidenceTier 3 · early human
Cells · Aug 2025 · review
uterine serous carcinomaendometrial cancerbreast cancer
This is a narrative review of HER2/neu as a signaling and therapeutic marker in uterine serous carcinoma (USC). It summarizes HER2 expression and amplification in USC, compares USC HER2 features to breast cancer, evaluates preclinical and clinical evidence for HER2-directed therapies (including monoclonal antibodies and ADCs), and discusses possible mechanisms of resistance.
Studied with: monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, chemotherapy.
Key findings
- HER2/neu coordinates cell growth and differentiation and when overexpressed and/or amplified its downstream tyrosine kinase can become constitutively activated, causing dysregulated gene transcription.
- HER2/neu has been successfully targeted in breast cancer with monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates.
- Use of HER2-directed therapies in gynecologic malignancies has been slower, in part due to unique characteristics of HER2 protein expression and gene amplification in USC such as major heterogeneity and lack of apical staining compared to breast cancer.
- Optimal testing algorithms for HER2/neu status in USC may have important implications for developing targeted therapies.
- The review evaluates efficacy of HER2-directed therapies in both preclinical and clinical settings and discusses possible mechanisms of resistance.
Limitations: Narrative review rather than original experimental or systematic/meta-analytic data.; Abstract contains no quantitative results or study-level sample sizes.; Conclusions depend on heterogeneous preclinical and clinical studies in the literature rather than a single controlled dataset.; Field limitations noted (e.g., heterogeneity of HER2 expression in USC) may limit generalizability of testing and therapeutic approaches..
Reviews HER2/neu expression and the potential of HER2-directed therapies in uterine serous carcinoma, with attention to diagnostic testing and resistance.
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
Animal studyReported positivePreclinical onlyTier 2 · animal
Nature communications · Aug 2025 · xenograft antitumor assays
neuroblastomarhabdomyosarcomacolorectal carcinomamelanomaovarian carcinomabreast carcinoma
This study tested a humanized antibody-drug conjugate called CDX0239-PBD in ALK-expressing cancer models. In cell lines, it was taken up by ALK-positive neuroblastoma cells and killed them in a way that depended on surface ALK expression. In mouse xenograft models, it produced strong antitumor activity and complete responses were maintained in several ALK-expressing cancers.
Key findings
- ALK RNA, protein, and tumor cell surface expression was elevated in multiple pediatric and adult malignancies with minimal expression in childhood normal tissues.
- CDX0239-PBD was internalized in ALK-expressing neuroblastoma cell lines with cell surface expression-dependent cytotoxicity.
- CDX0239-PBD exhibited potent antitumor efficacy including maintained complete responses in ALK-expressing patient and cell line-derived neuroblastoma, fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma, and colorectal carcinoma xenograft models.
Limitations: Preclinical study only; no human treatment data are reported in the abstract.; Efficacy was shown in cell lines and xenograft mouse models, which may not predict clinical benefit.; No quantitative effect sizes, dosing details, or toxicity results are provided in the abstract..
The abstract describes a preclinical anticancer antibody-drug conjugate targeting ALK-expressing tumors.
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
Human · observationalSupportive careMixed resultsModerate evidenceTier 3 · early humann = 267586
Journal of the National Cancer Institute · Aug 2025 · prospective cohort study
Supportive carecervical cancerHodgkin lymphomaprostate cancerbreast cancercolorectal cancerlung cancerendometrial canceroral cavity and pharynx cancerkidney cancerovarian cancersarcomamelanomaleukemia
Researchers followed participants in three large prospective cohorts for up to 36 years to examine whether a cancer diagnosis was associated with later atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). They documented 4,334 new ASCVD events among 49,603 incident cancer cases and found that cervical cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma were associated with higher ASCVD risk, prostate cancer with slightly lower risk, and that ASCVD risk trajectories over time varied by cancer type (for example, breast cancer survivors had lower ASCVD risk for the first 7.5 years, then risk increased).
Reported effects: new-onset ASCVD events among incident cancer cases 4334, n=49603 · cervical cancer HR 1.56 [1.06–2.29] · +6 more
Key findings
- During up to 36 years of follow-up, 4,334 new-onset ASCVD events among 49,603 incident cancer cases were documented.
- Cervical cancer was associated with increased ASCVD incidence (HR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.06 to 2.29).
- Hodgkin lymphoma was associated with increased ASCVD incidence (HR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.89 to 4.15).
- Prostate cancer was associated with lower ASCVD incidence (HR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.85 to 0.97).
- Breast cancer survivors experienced lower ASCVD risk during the first 7.5 years after diagnosis, but risk gradually increased afterward (Pnonlinearity = .01).
- ASCVD risk increased over time among patients with cancers of the colorectum (P = .003), lung (P = .002), and endometrium (P = .04).
- No statistically significant association with ASCVD risk was observed for cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, kidney, or ovary; sarcoma; melanoma; or leukemia.
Limitations: Observational cohort design cannot establish causality.; Potential for residual confounding despite multivariable adjustment.; Cohorts consist of nurses and health professionals, which may limit generalizability to other populations.; Abstract does not report details on cancer stage or treatments, which could influence ASCVD risk..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
Human · observationalReported positiveModerate evidenceTier 3 · early humann = 4332
JAMA oncology · Apr 2024 · International longitudinal cohort study
breast cancerovarian cancerperitoneal cancer
This international cohort study followed 4,332 women with pathogenic BRCA1 or BRCA2 variants (no prior cancer) to evaluate whether self-reported bilateral oophorectomy was associated with mortality. After a mean 9.0 years, oophorectomy was associated with lower age-adjusted all-cause mortality (HR 0.32); HRs were 0.28 for BRCA1 and 0.43 for BRCA2 carriers. Estimated cumulative all-cause mortality to age 75 was lower for women who had oophorectomy at age 35 versus those who did not (BRCA1: 25% vs 62%; BRCA2: 14% vs 28%).
Reported effects: cohort_size 4332, n=4332 · deaths_total 228, n=4332 · +5 more
Key findings
- Cohort included 4,332 women (mean age, 42.6 years); 2,932 (67.8%) underwent preventive oophorectomy at a mean age of 45.4 years.
- After mean follow-up of 9.0 years, 851 women developed cancer and 228 died (57 ovarian/fallopian tube cancer, 58 breast cancer, 16 peritoneal cancer, 97 other causes).
- Age-adjusted HR for all-cause mortality associated with oophorectomy: 0.32 (95% CI, 0.24-0.42; P < .001).
- Age-adjusted HR for all-cause mortality for BRCA1: 0.28 (95% CI, 0.20-0.38; P < .001); for BRCA2: 0.43 (95% CI, 0.22-0.90; P = .03).
- Estimated cumulative all-cause mortality to age 75 for oophorectomy at age 35 versus no oophorectomy: BRCA1 25% vs 62%; BRCA2 14% vs 28%.
Limitations: Observational cohort design with no randomization, so results may be affected by confounding.; Oophorectomy status was self-reported via questionnaire.; Potential for residual confounding or selection bias not addressed in the abstract.; Mean follow-up of 9.0 years may limit capture of longer-term outcomes..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jul 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text