What Is Herceptin? (Trastuzumab) | HealthInfi

Herceptin is the brand name of a medicine called trastuzumab. It’s used to treat some types of breast cancer, oesophageal cancer and stomach cancer. Herceptin (chemical name: trastuzumab) can be an effective treatment both before and after surgery for people with HER2-positive breast cancer. It has also been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence after initial surgery.

Herceptin is approved for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer that is Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2-positive (HER2+) and has spread into the lymph nodes, or is HER2+ and has not spread into the lymph nodes.

If it has not spread into the lymph nodes, the cancer needs to be estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR)-negative or have one high risk feature.

Trastuzumab, sold under the brand name Herceptin among others, is a monoclonal antibody used to treat breast cancer. Specifically it is used for breast cancer that is HER2 receptor positive. It may be used by itself or together with other chemotherapy medication.  Trastuzumab is given by slow injection into a vein and injection just under the skin.

Common side effects include fever, infection, cough, headache, trouble sleeping, and rash.Other severe side effects include heart failure, allergic reactions, and lung disease. Use during pregnancy may harm the baby. Trastuzumab works by binding to the HER2 receptor and slowing down cell duplication

Trastuzumab was approved for medical use in the United States in 1998.It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system.The wholesale price in the developing world is between 1,800 and 1,955 USD per 440 mg vial.In the United Kingdom a 150 mg vial costs the NHS 407.00 pounds.

 Herceptin can be used in several different ways

• As part of a treatment course including the chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and either paclitaxel or docetaxel. This treatment course is known as “AC→TH“
• With the chemotherapy drugs docetaxel and carboplatin. This treatment course is known as “TCH“
• Alone after treatment with multiple other therapies, including an anthracycline (doxorubicin)-based therapy (a type of chemotherapy)

*High risk is defined as ER/PR-positive with one of the following features: tumor size greater than 2 cm, age less than 35 years, or tumor Grade 2 or 3.

Indications

Adjuvant Breast Cancer

Herceptin is approved for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer that is Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2-positive (HER2+) and has spread into the lymph nodes, or is HER2-positive and has not spread into the lymph nodes. If it has not spread into the lymph nodes, the cancer needs to be estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR)-negative or have one high-risk feature.Read More