When you or someone in your family is diagnosed with breast cancer, it's hard to put into words the fear and anxiety you feel. It's a very emotional time. But, the most important thing is that with the advanced medical science that we have now, we can have hope. Your doctor will consider many things, such as the type of cancer you have, your age, and whether you have other diseases, to choose the best treatment options for you. Breast cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Today we're talking about a slightly different, more specific treatment. This is called " targeted therapy." Herceptin is one such drug. Its medical name is Trastuzumab . You may have heard it called other names like Kanjinti, Herzuma, Ogivri. These are called ``biosimilars.'' Simply put, these are biological copies of the same drug as Herceptin.
What is Targeted Therapy and Herceptin?
Think about it, regular chemotherapy drugs affect not only cancer cells, but also healthy cells that divide rapidly. But targeted therapies are not like that. They work by targeting specific targets. These drugs control specific proteins that help cancer cells grow and spread. That's why they don't work for all cancers. The protein that the drug targets must be present in large quantities in those cancer cells.
The drug Herceptin targets a protein called HER2 . (The full name of this is `human epidermal growth factor receptor 2`). So, if this HER2 protein is produced in excess in cancer cells, we call that type of breast cancer `HER2-positive` breast cancer. Herceptin treatment is given only to those `HER2-positive` type of breast cancer.
How does this Herceptin drug work inside the body?
To understand this, let's first look at what HER2 is. HER2 is a receptor on the surface of cells. Think of it as a little antenna on the surface of a cell. These antennas are what receive signals from outside the cell and act on them. In a healthy cell, HER2 receptors are there to control cell growth.
But something different happens in `HER2-positive` cancer cells. These cells have extra copies of the genes that make the HER2 protein. So, these cells make too much of the HER2 protein. It's like there are too many antennas on the cell. Then, the cancer cells get too many signals to "grow, divide," and they grow out of control, very quickly.
Herceptin is a special antibody that scientists have created. It is similar to the natural antibodies that our bodies produce against germs when we get sick. This artificial antibody attaches to the extra HER2 antennae on cancer cells. This blocks the signal that tells the cell to "grow." In this way, Herceptin helps to control the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Is Herceptin treatment suitable for my cancer?
This is a very important question. If your breast cancer is `HER2-negative`, meaning that the cancer cells do not have the extra HER2 protein, then Herceptin treatment will not work. Most breast cancers are `HER2-negative`. About 20% are HER2-positive. Your doctor will tell you exactly what type of cancer you have through tests.
Herceptin treatment is used in the early stages of breast cancer, as well as in the advanced stages where the cancer has spread (metastatic).
- For early-stage cancer: If your cancer is HER2-positive and early-stage, Herceptin is given to prevent the cancer from coming back after surgery. This is often given with chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. This treatment is more likely to be given if the cancer is large or has spread to the lymph nodes.
- For advanced cancer: If the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body (metastatic), Herceptin can help stop or slow its growth. Sometimes, if a tumor is too large to be removed by surgery, Herceptin and other treatments can shrink it before surgery.
The most important thing is to talk openly with your doctor and understand everything about what treatment is best for you, how it will be given, and why it was chosen.
What should you expect when receiving treatment?
Herceptin is given as an infusion (intravenous - IV) into a vein. It is given as a saline solution. This is done because the medicine needs to be injected directly into the bloodstream. It can take between 30 and 90 minutes to complete.
There is also a form of this that is given as an injection. It is called `Herceptin Hylecta`. Studies have shown that this is just as effective as the IV. Your doctor will decide which method is best for you.
How long and how often you need to take Herceptin depends on the stage of your cancer and the other medications you are taking. If the cancer is advanced (metastatic), you may need to continue treatment as long as the medicine is working and there are no serious side effects.
Very important: Your doctor will check your heart function regularly before and during Herceptin treatment, as this medicine can sometimes affect the heart.
| Type of side effect | Description and symptoms |
|---|---|
| Common side effects |
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| Serious side effects to be aware of |
In addition to this, other side effects may occur. Therefore, before starting treatment, you should carefully learn what symptoms to watch out for and when to immediately inform your doctor. Herceptin treatment is not given to women who are pregnant or who are trying to become pregnant.
How successful is this treatment?
Herceptin is a drug that revolutionized the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer after it was approved in 1998.
- For advanced cancer: Herceptin, when given alone or with chemotherapy, can slow the growth of the cancer and help patients live longer. However, sometimes the drug can work for a while and then stop working.
- For early-stage cancer: This is where the greatest success is seen. Studies have shown that adding Herceptin to chemotherapy after surgery can reduce the risk of the cancer coming back by about 50% . This means that more women who take Herceptin live longer without cancer.
Although treatment is initially given for a year or two, recent studies show that for many people, taking Herceptin for as little as 6 months is sufficient. This is good news for those who are concerned about side effects.
Take-Home Message
- Herceptin is a specific "targeted therapy" for HER2-positive breast cancer.
- This drug blocks the signals that cancer cells receive to "grow" and controls the growth of the cancer.
- This is very effective in greatly reducing the risk of cancer recurrence in early-stage cancers and in controlling the growth of cancer in advanced stages.
- Like all medications, there are side effects. The doctor is always attentive, especially to the functioning of the heart.
- Talk openly and honestly with your doctor about your cancer, your health, and your treatment options. Ask any questions you have. It's your right.
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