Herceptin Uses

Herceptin is licensed for use in treating breast cancer. As a part of a group of medications called monoclonal antibodies, Herceptin works by binding to certain proteins on the cancer cells to interfere with their growth and multiplication. Herceptin is not a form of chemotherapy; it is a type of biological therapy and is considered less "toxic" than chemotherapy. There are currently no off-label Herceptin uses, and the medication is not approved for use in treating children or adolescents with breast cancer.

What Is Herceptin Used For?

Herceptin® (trastuzumab) is a prescription medication used to treat breast cancer. It is part of a group of medications called monoclonal antibodies. Specifically, Herceptin has been licensed to treat breast cancer in the following ways:
 
  • In combination with chemotherapy to prevent cancer from returning after breast cancer surgery for node-positive cancers (that have spread to lymph nodes) that overexpress HER2 (have a high concentration of HER2 receptors). There are a few different regimens, such as:
     
 
    • Herceptin can be combined with docetaxel and carboplatin for 18 weeks, followed by Herceptin alone for a total of 52 weeks of Herceptin treatment.
 
    • Herceptin can be used by itself (for 52 weeks of treatment) after an anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimen. Anthracyclines include:
 
      • Daunorubicin (Cerubidine®, DaunoXome®)
      • Doxorubicin
      • Epirubicin (Ellence®)
      • Idarubicin (Idamycin®)
      • Mitoxantrone (Novantrone®)
      • Valrubicin (Valstar®).
 
  • Alone to treat people who have already undergone chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancers (that have spread to other parts of the body) that overexpress HER2.
     
  • In combination with paclitaxel (Onxol, Taxol) to treat metastatic breast cancers that overexpress HER2 in people who have not had prior chemotherapy.
     

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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