Family of antibodies, variable region of trastuzumab (anti-HER2)
The Anti-HER2 isotype family features the variable region of trastuzumab. Trastuzumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that targets the HER2 receptor (also known as HER2/neu) that is found on the cell membrane of epithelial cells.
HER2 plays an important role in normal cell growth and differentiation. However, in certain types of cancers, particularly in breast and ovarian cancers, HER2 is over-expressed and causes uncontrollable cell proliferation.
Binding of trastuzumab to HER2 results in cell death through different mechanisms including antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and phagocytosis.
Trastuzumab has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of breast cancer.
The Anti-HER2 isotype family was generated by recombinant DNA technology. It has been produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and purified by affinity chromatography: protein G for IgG1 and IgG4, and peptide M for IgA2.