Trastuzumab for Breast Cancer

Overview
Trastuzumab is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat metastatic breast cancer in cases where tumors overexpress the HER2 protein and one or more chemotherapy regimens have already been tried. Trastuzumab is used as a treatment for advanced breast cancer and may also be prescribed as adjuvant (postsurgery) treatment to reduce the chances of recurrence in women who have been successfully treated for breast cancer. Trastuzumab is marketed under the brand name Herceptin.

In about 25 percent of breast cancers, there is a genetic variation that causes tumor cells to produce extra receptors for a growth factor. This gene, known as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), causes the cancer to grow more aggressively. Trastuzumab is a member of a class of drugs called biologics. Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody designed to turn off the HER2 gene. Trastuzumab is believed to work by reducing the amount of growth factor receptors on cancer cells, thereby slowing the growth of tumors.

How do I take it?
Trastuzumab is given as an intravenous injection once a week or once every three weeks.

Trastuzumab is available as a powder packaged in a vial.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for trastuzumab lists common side effects including nausea, headache, diarrhea, and chills.

Rare but serious side effects listed for trastuzumab can include heart failure, lung damage, lowered blood cell count, and severe infusion reactions.

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Trastuzumab — Chemocare
http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/Tra...