thomasdevos
10-03-2009, 01:16 PM
Breast Cancer ? Herceptin and HER2
One of the most important advances and the most exciting in recent history in the fight against breast cancer is a drug called Herceptin. (Trastuzumab) This drug has proved very effective against certain types of advanced breast cancer. Some more recent clinical trials showed that Herceptin may also be effective against some types of breast cancers earlier stage. Herceptin has been approved for use in 1998 by the FDA.
For certain types of cancers, we are referring to those who over-express a protein called HER2. HER2 stands for human epidermal receptor growth factor 2. HER2 can be found on the cell surface and this is responsible for maintaining the cell growth in check. If HER2 malfunctions and begins to produce too much of herself due to a mutation can cause cells to produce too much of themselves too soon. This may make cancers behave in a much more aggressive. Overexpression of HER2 is a factor in 20% to 30% of cases of breast cancer.
The official scientific description big word is that Herceptin is a monoclonal antibody, developed through biotechnology. The way it works is by focusing on all cells that are overproducing the protein HER2. It attacks the receptor proteins, which then slows the growth of cells down. It targets the HER2 protein, as opposed to traditional types of treatment that tend to destroy all the fast-growing cells in their way, healthy or cancerous. This is a big improvement on some types of chemotherapy. The development of targeted therapies like Herceptin is the wave of the future.
So how does a patient with breast cancer receive Herceptin? The cancer must show he has over-expressing the HER2 protein. It is determined by a test pathologist with cancer cells that were removed from the breast during surgery. He or she may stain fabrics with a solution that will highlight any overproduction of HER2. If a patient is HER2 over-expression now, they are regarded as HER2 positive, it might be possible to treat their cancer with Herceptin, if necessary.
Herceptin is not for everyone. It is approved for the treatment of women with advanced cancer in combination with chemotherapy, pa****axel. There are side effects associated with drugs and one that includes cardiotoxicity that can cause serious heart problems in patients. Therefore, cardiac monitoring before, during and after treatment is crucial. The less serious side effects include fever, chills, increased cough, diarrhea and weakness. If Herceptin is given with chemotherapy, nausea are possible. Other moderately severe side effects: loss of white blood cells and anemia.
A diagnosis of breast cancer can be a scary thing, especially if you're in the percentage of patients who are more aggressive HER2. Knowing that there is another treatment that has proven to be effective against such cancers brings more hope of survival for these women and men.
Reference Site:
breast cancer treatment (http://breast-cancer-treatment-cure.com)
www.breastcancer.org (http://www.breastcancer.org/)
en.wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer)
www.cancer.gov (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast)
breastcancer.about.com (http://breastcancer.about.com/)
One of the most important advances and the most exciting in recent history in the fight against breast cancer is a drug called Herceptin. (Trastuzumab) This drug has proved very effective against certain types of advanced breast cancer. Some more recent clinical trials showed that Herceptin may also be effective against some types of breast cancers earlier stage. Herceptin has been approved for use in 1998 by the FDA.
For certain types of cancers, we are referring to those who over-express a protein called HER2. HER2 stands for human epidermal receptor growth factor 2. HER2 can be found on the cell surface and this is responsible for maintaining the cell growth in check. If HER2 malfunctions and begins to produce too much of herself due to a mutation can cause cells to produce too much of themselves too soon. This may make cancers behave in a much more aggressive. Overexpression of HER2 is a factor in 20% to 30% of cases of breast cancer.
The official scientific description big word is that Herceptin is a monoclonal antibody, developed through biotechnology. The way it works is by focusing on all cells that are overproducing the protein HER2. It attacks the receptor proteins, which then slows the growth of cells down. It targets the HER2 protein, as opposed to traditional types of treatment that tend to destroy all the fast-growing cells in their way, healthy or cancerous. This is a big improvement on some types of chemotherapy. The development of targeted therapies like Herceptin is the wave of the future.
So how does a patient with breast cancer receive Herceptin? The cancer must show he has over-expressing the HER2 protein. It is determined by a test pathologist with cancer cells that were removed from the breast during surgery. He or she may stain fabrics with a solution that will highlight any overproduction of HER2. If a patient is HER2 over-expression now, they are regarded as HER2 positive, it might be possible to treat their cancer with Herceptin, if necessary.
Herceptin is not for everyone. It is approved for the treatment of women with advanced cancer in combination with chemotherapy, pa****axel. There are side effects associated with drugs and one that includes cardiotoxicity that can cause serious heart problems in patients. Therefore, cardiac monitoring before, during and after treatment is crucial. The less serious side effects include fever, chills, increased cough, diarrhea and weakness. If Herceptin is given with chemotherapy, nausea are possible. Other moderately severe side effects: loss of white blood cells and anemia.
A diagnosis of breast cancer can be a scary thing, especially if you're in the percentage of patients who are more aggressive HER2. Knowing that there is another treatment that has proven to be effective against such cancers brings more hope of survival for these women and men.
Reference Site:
breast cancer treatment (http://breast-cancer-treatment-cure.com)
www.breastcancer.org (http://www.breastcancer.org/)
en.wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer)
www.cancer.gov (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast)
breastcancer.about.com (http://breastcancer.about.com/)