AUTHOR=Xu Luying , Xie Yuxin , Gou Qiheng , Cai Rui , Bao Rong , Huang Yucheng , Tang Ruisi TITLE=HER2-targeted therapies for HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer: present and future JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2024 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1446414 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2024.1446414 ISSN=1663-9812 ABSTRACT=Breast cancer (BC) has the second highest incidence among cancers and is the leading cause of death among women worldwide. The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in approximately 20% to 30% of BC patients. The development of HER2-targeted drugs, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), has improved the operation rate and pathological remission rate and reduced the risk of postoperative recurrence for HER2-positive early-stage BC (HER2+ EBC) patients. This review systematically summarizes the mechanisms, resistance, therapeutic modalities and safety of HER2-targeted drugs and helps us further understand these drugs and their use in clinical practice for patients with HER2+ EBC.