Trastuzumab
Trastuzumab, known more commonly as Herceptin, is a medicine used to treat some breast and stomach cancers. The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 is a protein present in ordinary human cells. The levels of this protein are abnormally high in cancer patients; therefore they are known as HEF2 positive. [1] Herceptin attaches itself to the HER2 receptors on the surface of cancer cells; therefore blocking these cells from any growth signals they may have otherwise received. After this attachment, herceptin causes the immune system to kill the cancer cells that it is attached to [2].
References
- ↑ NHS choices,2014,Herceptin.[online]Available at:http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/herceptin/Pages/Introduction.aspx[Accessed 25 November 2014]
- ↑ Breast Cancer Care,2014,Herceptin[online]Available at:https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-information/treating-breast-cancer/targeted-therapy/trastuzumab-herceptin[Accessed 25 November 2014]