Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is an important biomarker in the treatment of gastric and esophageal cancer.
HER2 biomarkers are proteins found on the surface of cells that support cell growth and repair. Cancers with high levels of HER2 protein or HER2 genes are called HER2 positive and tend to grow quickly and spread to other parts of the body.
Knowing your HER2 status is important if you want to find the best treatment options for stomach and esophageal cancer. About one in five cases of stomach cancer are HER2 positive, meaning HER2-blocking drugs can be an effective treatment option.
However, not all anti-HER2 treatments are successful for stomach cancer. One reason for this is the HER2 heterogeneity of gastric cancer, which means that in gastric cancer not all cancer cells are identical, as is the case in other types of HER2-positive cancers such as breast cancer. HER2 levels may also change over time or after treatment.
HER2 testing is routine for advanced gastroesophageal cancer. Therefore, it is important to make sure you are tested for HER2. Talk to your doctor about your HER2 test results and discuss how the results may affect your treatment plan.
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