Biological Therapy

Certain new drugs can target proteins on the surface of cancer cells and block their growth.

Herceptin is such a drug and can be used in some cases of invasive breast cancer that contains special proteins known as Her-2 receptors. This drug is better tolerated than chemotherapy. Her-2 positive breast cancer tends to behave more aggressively than Her-2 negative breast cancer.

Herceptin can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy in women with advanced (metastatic) breast cancer that contains Her-2 proteins. The author also recommends the use of this drug in women undergoing chemotherapy for early invasive breast cancer which is positive for Her-2. In these cases. Herceptin is given three weekly for 1 to 2 years.

The drug is not recommended in patients with significant heart problems.

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