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Home > Q: I’ve heard that the drug Herceptin has shown even more promise than originally thought in treating breast cancer.

Q: I’ve heard that the drug Herceptin has shown even more promise than originally thought in treating breast cancer.

I’ve heard that the drug Herceptin has shown even more promise than originally thought in treating breast cancer.
Will this drug be used to treat more women with breast cancer?
Is the treatment for everyone?
How does Herceptin work?
How does a woman know whether or not she is HER2 positive?
Does Herceptin cure breast cancer?
Are there risks to using Herceptin?
How is the Herceptin therapy administered?
What are the side effects of Herceptin?
Does this mean women with breast cancer don’t need chemotherapy?
How do I know which therapy is right for my treatment?
Where can I learn more about Herceptin?

Q: I’ve heard that the drug Herceptin has shown even more promise than originally thought in treating breastcancer.

A: Yes, a recent editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine reported promising news about Herceptin(trastuzumab), an antibody used with chemotherapy for breast cancer treatment. Major clinical studieshave shown that certain high-risk patients (with stage 2 cancer) who use the drug early in treatmenthave a 52 percent decrease in breast cancer recurrence compared to patients who received chemotherapyalone.

Q: Will this drug be used to treat more women with breast cancer?

A: Yes. It had been recommended only for metastatic cancer (cancer that has spread from its original site). Now, Herceptin is recommended for newly diagnosed breast cancer, too.

Q: Is the treatment for everyone?

A: No. Only about 25 percent of breast cancer patients are eligible for Herceptin therapy. These women have tumors with too much of a cell protein called HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2). HER2 may play an important role in turning a normal cell into a cancer cell. HER2 is also associated with a more aggressive cancer and higher risk of breast cancer recurrence. Women must test positive for the HER2 protein or gene to be treated with Herceptin.

Q: How does Herceptin work?

A: Herceptin (trastuzumab) is a biologically engineered product that takes advantage of the ability of antibodies to latch on to specific proteins. Herceptin prevents the growth of cancer cells by attaching to and neutralizing the growth effect of HER2, a protein on the surface of breast cancer cells that stimulates their growth. Not only does Herceptin block tumor cell growth, it may even signal the body’s immune system to destroy the cell.

Q: How does a woman know whether or not she is HER2 positive?

A: Doctors should check for HER2 at the time of diagnosis to determine whether or not cells are expressing the protein. Also, they can perform yet another test that detects the HER2 genes inside the cells. Patients who want their tumor’s HER2 status checked should ask their doctor to have testing done at the time of biopsy or surgery, although tests also can be done on a tumor sample that is stored..

Q: Does Herceptin cure breast cancer?

A: It is possible and likely that Herceptin therapy has cured some patients with early stage breast cancer. Over the last 10 to 15 years the breast cancer mortality rate has dropped significantly. But there is no way to know for sure, because not enough time has elapsed since the antibody therapy was first introduced.

Q: Are there risks to using Herceptin?

A: When using Herceptin with chemotherapy, there is a small increase in the risk of congestive heart failure. The risk increases from less than 1 percent with chemotherapy alone to 3 to 4 percent with the combination therapy. Doctors recommend that patients using Herceptin have regular heart function tests. But for HER2-positive women, the risk of congestive heart failure is low compared to the risk of breast cancer reoccurrence.

Always talk with your doctor about the drugs you are currently taking and your risks.

Q: How is the Herceptin therapy administered?

A: Herceptin is a clear liquid administered through an intravenous (IV) infusion at a doctor's office or clinic. The first infusion usually takes about 90 minutes but may be slowed or stopped if patients have discomfort from side effects. Later infusions last only about 30 minutes.

Q: What are the side effects of Herceptin?

A: For the vast majority of patients, there are no major side effects. Antihistamines are provided to prevent any allergic reaction. In clinical trials, some patients experienced flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever and nausea during the first infusion, but symptoms occurred less frequently with subsequent infusions.

Q: Does this mean women with breast cancer don’t need chemotherapy?

A: No, Herceptin is intended for use in conjunction with chemotherapy, not as a replacement. It has been shown that the combination of Herceptin and chemotherapy is more successful in early stage breast cancer than receiving either therapy alone. In the clinical trial, patients continued to receive Herceptin after their planned chemotherapy was stopped for a year of total Herceptin treatment. Patients being treated for metastatic disease may stay on Herceptin longer. Talk to your doctor about how long you should stay on Herceptin therapy.

Q: How do I know which therapy is right for my treatment?

A: Cancer treatments are becoming more individual and targeted , so each person’s treatment may vary. You should educate yourself about the latest methods so that you can discuss them with your doctor. For example, anti-estrogen therapy is indicated for women with estrogen sensitive breast cancer (cancers that test positive for the estrogen receptor. In addition, another antibody called Avastin (bevacizumab) is used with the chemotherapy agent Taxol for patients with metastatic breast cancer. While Herceptin will be recommended for treatment of newly diagnosed breast cancers that express the HER2 protein,Avastin is recommended now only for women with advanced breast cancer.