TARGETED BIOLOGICAL THERAPY
Biological treatments target the cancer cells directly. They are less likely to affect healthy tissues and so have fewer side effects. Herceptin (also known as trastuzumab) is one of the best known biological treatments therapy available to treat early breast cancer. It aims to prevent the breast cancer spreading or coming back.
Herceptin targets breast cancers that express high levels of a protein called HER2. These breast cancers are known as HER2 positive breast cancers and account for about one in five breast cancers. Patients with HER2 negative cancers (those with low levels of HER2) do not benefit from Herceptin.
Women taking Herceptin may experience some side effects including flu-like symptoms. Importantly, it can lead to heart damage. Due to this risk, Herceptin may not be a suitable treatment for everyone and all patients should have their heart function assessed before and during treatment by means of an echocardiogram. In the UK, when Herceptin is given, it is usually combined with one of the chemotherapy regimes.
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