Biological therapies are medications that help to boost your immune system response and usually target a specific gene.
In breast cancer, trastuzumab (Herceptin®) is a monoclonal antibody that has been developed in a laboratory to target the HER2/neu gene. Women who test positive for this gene may benefit from using this medication, which can slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. Up until recently, this medication has only been used for women with advanced breast cancer who tested positive for the HER2/neu gene. Recent research has shown that newly diagnosed women with HER2-positive tumors may benefit from trastuzumab therapy with chemotherapy or after chemotherapy is given.
Trastuzumab is only available by injection into a vein. The most common side effects with trastuzumab are fever and chills, headache, pain, weakness, and rashes. These side effects tend to be worse after the first treatment and then go away. Some serious, uncommon side effects with trastuzumab include heart damage and breathing difficulties. If your doctor decides that this medication may be of benefit to you, your heart and breathing will be tested and you will be monitored closely throughout your therapy.