Effect of neoadjuvant Herceptin (trastuzumab) in a patient with breast cancer with high growth activity
2009
Abstract
Targeted biological therapy in patients with breast cancer is a highly effective method of treatment. One of the first agents to have provided a breakthrough in the treatment of breast cancer is Herceptin (trastuzumab).
This specific antibody is effective in patients with malignant breast cancer with overexpression of epidermal growth factor HER2. In this HER2-positive type of tumor, trastuzumab specifically blocks the HER2 receptor, which results in tumor growth inhibition or even regression of the tumor.
The present paper describes a case of a young patient who received Herceptin preoperatively in conjunction with chemotherapy.