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Treatment Options > Chemotherapy > OncoLink Rx

Traztuzumab (Herceptin®)

Carolyn Vachani, RN, MSN, AOCN
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: June 9, 2006

Traztuzumab is a type of monoclonal antibody, which is a group of medications that are designed to target a specific type of cell (in this case, a Her2 positive breast cancer cell). Her2 is overexpressed on about 25-30% of all breast cancers and is associated with a poorer prognosis. Antibodies, which are normally found in the body, are developed by the immune system to destroy foreign things (such as a germ). Traztuzumab is an antibody that is made in a laboratory, with the goal of stimulating the patient's immune system to attack the breast cancer cells. Traztuzumab may also block Her2+ cells from dividing and works in conjunction with chemotherapy to destroy breast cancer cells.

Facts about traztuzumab

• Traztuzumab is approved by the Food & Drug Administration to treat patients with Her2 positive breast cancer.
• Her2 overexpression is also found on other cancers including ovarian, stomach, colon, endometrial, lung, bladder, prostate, and salivary gland tumors. Studies are testing traztuzumab in these diseases, as well as in children.

How to take traztuzumab

Traztuzumab is given directly into a vein, and the infusion generally takes 90 minutes (30 minutes for weekly infusions). The treatments can be given weekly or every three weeks with equal results.

How long should you take traztuzumab? You can receive traztuzumab for as long as the cancer cells continue to respond to this therapy and you are tolerating any side effects. In adjuvant therapy (given in addition to surgery), treatment is generally given for a year.