Is neratinib/neratinib (He Li'an) a targeted drug?

Neratinib/Neratinib is a targeted therapy drug rather than a traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy drug. There is a relatively unified consensus on this point in guidelines, pharmacological definitions, and clinical practice. The core feature of targeted drugs is that they have “clear targets” and can achieve relatively precise treatment by intervening in key molecular pathways during tumor occurrence and development, and neratinib meets this basic definition.

From the perspective of its mechanism of action, neratinib is an oral small molecule, irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor that mainly targets HER2 and some members of the epidermal growth factor receptor family. The HER2 signaling pathway is abnormally activated in some breast cancer patients and is an important driving force for the continued proliferation and survival of tumor cells. Neratinib binds to the receptor kinase domain and continuously inhibits downstream signaling, thereby blocking tumor growth signals at the molecular level. This therapeutic idea of u200bu200b"intervening against specific molecular abnormalities" is the core concept of targeted therapy.

Compared with traditional chemotherapy, neratinib does not rely on rapid killing of all dividing cells, so the treatment strategy emphasizes molecular typing and population screening. Clinically, the therapeutic value of neratinib can only be realized when the HER2-positive background is clear, which further strengthens its targeted drug properties. Judging from overseas drug use experience, neratinib is often used in the extended adjuvant treatment phase of HER2-positive breast cancer, or as one of the long-term control options for advanced and metastatic breast cancer. Its goals are more focused on reducing the risk of recurrence and delaying disease progression, rather than reducing tumor volume in the short term.

In addition, neratinib is mainly characterized by oral administration and long-term continuous use, which is also in line with the current development trend of targeted drugs "chronic disease management". During the course of medication, patients need to monitor efficacy and tolerability over a long period of time, and maintain treatment continuity through dose adjustment and adverse reaction management.

Reference materials:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neratinib