Trastuzumab

Trastuzumab

Monoclonal antibodies against the tumor cell are a relatively new and form of tumor destruction. Trastuzumab (Herceptin®) is a monoclonal antibody directed against the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2). This receptor is transcribed from a proto-oncogene and expressed on the surface of 25-35% of the primary mamma carcinomas. By binding the HER-2 receptor, trastuzumab inhibits both the proliferation of the tumor cell and it mediates antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by natural killer cells and macrophages at the tumor cell.

Trastuzumab is not very toxic for humans: it can cause cardiomyopathy in 2-3% of the patients. It is regarded as advance and metastatic breast cancer and metastatc stomach cancer, both when HER-2 positive.

1

I Monoclonal antibodies can be harmful to the patient.

II HER-2 is a tyrosine kinase receptor.