In epidemiology, understanding the role of HER2 is essential for several reasons:
1. Disease Surveillance: HER2 status helps in the classification of breast cancer, which is critical for surveillance and tracking trends in cancer incidence and outcomes. 2. Risk Stratification: HER2-positive breast cancers tend to be more aggressive, making it important for risk stratification and determining the prognosis of patients. 3. Targeted Therapies: The identification of HER2 has led to the development of targeted therapies, such as trastuzumab, which have significantly improved outcomes for HER2-positive breast cancer patients.
