European Journal of Oncology Nursing 4doi:10.1054/ejon.2000.0068.available

HER2-implications for breastcancermanagement

E D I T O R I A L

Established and newer chemotherapy regimes

rarely provide clinically meaningful survival

bene®t for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

They are also limited by their severe side-e�ects.

New therapeutic strategies with improved e�-

cacy and safety are therefore required.

Oncology nurses are intimately involved in the

care of women with breast cancer and have a

pivotal role to play in educating and supporting

women and their families. Nurses are also often

involved in the administration of chemotherapy,

management of side-e�ects and decisions regard-

ing palliative care. Given this situation nurses

need to be well informed about the most recent

advances in cancer care.

This supplement reports the proceedings of an

EONS symposium `I am HER2 positive - what

does this mean?' Providing answers to patient

concerns. It aims to address important new

developments in our understanding of the human

epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), a

protein with diagnostic and therapeutic potential

in the management of breast cancer.

HER2 is overexpressed in approximately 30%

of patients with metastatic breast cancer, is

(Suppl1),1 # 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltdonline at http://www.idealibrary.com.on

associated with poor prognosis and is possibly

predictive of response to chemotherapy. Papers

within this supplement will explain the potential

impact of HER2 research on oncology practice

in Europe and the USA. The implications of our

current understanding of the structure and

function of HER2 and the various HER2 testing

methods will be described. The recognition of

HER2 as a convenient target for new mono-

clonal antibody therapies will be discussed.

Insights into the present and future role of

HER2 as a target for therapy and the conse-

quence of this for cancer nursing will be

presented.

We are certain you will ®nd this supplement

both interesting and educational, and trust that it

will stimulate you to re¯ect on the possibilities of

this exciting new class of therapy for patients

with metastatic breast cancer.

Alison Richardson

Editor

Nora Kearney

Symposium Chair