What to Know About Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer
The Goal of Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer
A new type of treatment may be used for breast cancer. It’s called targeted therapy. It uses molecularly targeted drugs. That means the drugs zone in on the exact change in the cell that lets cancer cells grow and spread. There’s a specific kind of targeted drug for breast cancer. These drugs are called monoclonal antibodies. They work by stopping or slowing the growth of a certain protein in cancer cells. For breast cancer, the drug is Herceptin (trastuzumab). Herceptin aims for a protein called HER-2 or erb B2. That stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2. About 20 to 30% of breast cancer tumors make too much of this protein. This is called over expression. These tumors tend to grow faster than tumors that don’t make too much HER-2. And these tumors are more likely to recur. Treatment with Herceptin can stop or slow the growth of cancer cells.
Making the Decision to Have Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer
Your doctor may recommend using Herceptin alone or with chemotherapy if your tumor over-expresses HER-2/neu. Herceptin is now used as first-line treatment in patients with HER-2/neu over-expression. Taking drugs such as Adriamycin (doxorubicin) or Ellence (epirubicin) may increase your risk for developing heart problems with use of Herceptin.
Additionally, your doctor may also suggest Herceptin to help shrink tumors such as these:
- Tumors that have come back after chemotherapy
- Tumors that keep growing despite chemotherapy
What Happens During Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer
You get Herceptin through an intravenous (IV) injection into your vein. It will take 30 to 90 minutes to get your full dose. You can usually have this done as an outpatient.
What to Expect After Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer
Because Herceptin targets particular cells, it is less damaging to healthy cells than other types of treatment. Compared with chemotherapy, the side effects are mild. This list of side effects is listed alphabetically. Ask your doctor which ones are most likely for you.
- Chills
- Fever
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Rashes
- Trouble breathing
- Vomiting
- Weakness
If you have trouble breathing, call your doctor immediately. You may find that the side effects are less severe after your first treatment. They usually go away or get better within a few weeks after your treatment ends. If you’re having uncomfortable side effects, tell your doctor or nurse so that they can help you ease them.