PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - GIANLUCA DI CARA AU - GERMANA MARENGO AU - NADIA NINFA ALBANESE AU - MARIA RITA MARABETI AU - ROSA MUSSO AU - PATRIZIA CANCEMI AU - IDA PUCCI-MINAFRA TI - Proteomic Profiling of Trastuzumab (Herceptin®)-sensitive and -resistant SKBR-3 Breast Cancer Cells DP - 2013 Feb 01 TA - Anticancer Research PG - 489--503 VI - 33 IP - 2 4099 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/33/2/489.short 4100 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/33/2/489.full SO - Anticancer Res2013 Feb 01; 33 AB - Background: The Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER-2), overexpressed in 25-30% of breast carcinomas (BC), is the therapeutic target for trastuzumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody. The initial response to trastuzumab is often followed by drug-insensitivity within one year. Several hypotheses have been raised to explain this event, but the mechanisms behind the responses to trastuzumab are still unclear. Aim: To study the effects of short and prolonged trastuzumab treatment on the proteomic profiles of HER-2-overexpressing SKBR-3 BC cells. Materials and methods: Cells were treated with trastuzumab to obtain sensitive and resistant clones. The drug effects were evaluated at the phenotypical and proteomic levels. Results: In the trastuzumab-resistant cells the expression of a large amount of proteins, initially affected by treatment, reverted to levels of the untreated cells. Conclusion: The results obtained so far illustrate for the first time a large-scale differential protein expression between trastuzumab-treated and untreated cells, and between trastuzumab-sensitive and resistant cells. We believe that the results obtained will help to increase the knowledge of the molecular effects of trastuzumab and will be useful to better-understand the drug resistance mechanisms.