Stomach Cancer Targeted Drug Therapy
Learn More About Targeted Therapy: Chat with Us | Email Us
Video: Targeted Drug Therapy
Targeted Drug TherapyTargeted Drug Therapy
Targeted drug therapy focuses on cancer cells and may be able to avoid harm to healthy cells. Listen to Dr. Dennis Citrin talk about this treatment.
Targeted Drug Therapy for Stomach Cancer
Medical oncologists at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) use innovative treatments for stomach (gastric) cancer, including targeted therapy. With this type of treatment, drugs or other specially created substances seek out stomach cancer cells to prevent them from growing, dividing and spreading.
Compared to chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy tends to cause less severe side effects. This is because chemotherapy affects cells throughout the body, including healthy cells.
Herceptin® (Trastuzumab) for Stomach Cancer
Approximately 20 percent of patients with advanced stomach cancer have what is known as human epidermal growth-factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive disease. This means their stomach tumors have a type of gene which stimulates cells to grow and become cancerous.
At CTCA, we test tumors for HER2. If your tumor tests positive, your medical oncologist may recommend the targeted drug Herceptin® as part of your treatment plan. Herceptin®, or trastuzumab, is a monoclonal antibody which targets the HER2 gene, aiming to slow or stop it from triggering the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Although relatively new as a stomach cancer treatment, Herceptin® has been used to treat breast cancer for more than a decade. Most often, it is used in combination with chemotherapy for stomach cancer. But, in some cases, this form of targeted therapy may be used alone.
As treatment protocols for stomach cancer targeted drug therapy continue to be approved, CTCA will make every effort to offer such cutting-edge treatments.
Next Topic: Stomach Cancer Radiation Therapy
