Trastuzumab

Trastuzumab - A monoclonal antibody used to treat HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) positive metastatic breast cancer. About 20-25 percent of breast cancers are HER2 positive, producing excess HER2 protein which allows cancerous cells to grow even faster than normal. Trastuzumab binds to HER2 and works to destroy HER2-positive breast cancer cells. Trastuzumab is normally prescribed as an adjuvant breast cancer treatment, and is used after surgery with other anticancer drugs. The trade name of trastuzumab is Herceptin^®.

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