Lapatinib (Tyverb) is a relatively new ‘wonder’ drug – a kinase inhibitor which has a dual action switching off Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2) and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor pathways (EGFR). Thus it is used in HER2 +ve breast cancer, especially where it has become metastatic. It is most usually prescribed with capecitabine or hormonal therapy.
Unfortunately, according to research from the Francis Crick Institute, King’s College London and Bart’s Hospital sometimes, instead of turning off HER2 and persuading the cancer cells to die, it can cause HER2 to react with HER3 and make the cancer a whole lot worse – the HER2/HER3 combination tells the cancer to grow faster.
Chris Woollams, founder of CANCERactive and former Oxford University Biochemist said, “Actually, there’s not much more to add. The finding was made by three top London cancer centres. Women need to know this. As Professor David Colquhoun, a pharmacologist at UCL said on TV a couple of years ago, ‘Some of these new cancer drugs just aren’t very good’.”