Nanoparticle based RNAi therapeutic to overcome intrinsic and acquired resistance in HER2+ breast cancer

The HER2 receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in approximately 20% of all breast cancers and is a poor prognostic indicator. Hyperactive HER2 signaling leads to aggressive tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance to traditional chemotherapy. The use of HER2 targeted therapies such as trastuzumab and lapatinib has dramatically prolonged survival compared to chemotherapy treatment alone. Unfortunately, a significant number of patients do not respond to these therapies while others will eventually relapse, prompting the need for better alternatives. We hypothesized that the ablation of HER2 protein by RNA interference would be a more effective and durable therapeutic approach.