What is Herceptin ® (Trastuzumab) ?
Herceptin ® (Trastuzumab) is a monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal antibodies are made in laboratories and are substances that can find and bind to cancer cells wherever they are in the body. Herceptin targets cancer cells that “overexpress” (makes too much of) a protein called HER-2/neu, which is found on the surface of the cancer cells. These cancers that overexpress HER-2/neu often grow more quickly and are more likely to recur (come back). Herceptin stops or slows the growth of these cells. HER-2/neu is overexpressed in 25-30% of all human breast cancers.
