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Immune Therapy with Herceptin

Herceptin (chemical name: trastuzumab) is the only FDA-approved immune treatment for breast cancer. It helps the immune system fight the cancer.
It produces antibodies that can help slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells. Eventually these cancer cells may also be killed.
Herceptin works against breast cancers that are HER2-positive. HER2-positive means there are too many copies of the HER2 gene present. This gene controls cell growth, so if it's abnormal, the cells can grow out of control. About one of every four breast cancers is HER2-positive.
Herceptin can target cancer cells and spare normal cells, so it tends to have fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy.
It is given by injection into the vein, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy drugs.
Researchers are looking at many possible combinations of Herceptin with other drugs.
Herceptin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for women with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancers. Studies (not yet complete) are also looking at whether Herceptin can help prevent or delay recurrence after treatment for early-stage disease.