My Breakthrough
Antibody treatments
Antibody treatments aim to prevent cancer cells from getting access to the growth factors they need to multiply and spread.
You may have heard of the natural antibodies we all have that help us to fight infection. They recognise invading microbes and bind to proteins on their surface, so that our immune cells can destroy them.
Scientists can make specific antibodies in the laboratory. For cancer treatments, they make antibodies that bind to key proteins on cancer cells. All cells need growth factors in the blood to help them multiply, and cancer cells are no exception.
For these growth factors to work, they need to bind to proteins on cells. By blocking these proteins on cancer cells with antibodies, doctors prevent the growth factors from getting to them.
In breast cancer, the best target protein that scientists have found so far is called human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2). About one in five women with breast cancer have unusually high levels of HER2. This is described as a HER2 positive breast cancer.
If you have breast cancer, you can have a test to see if you have high levels of HER2. If your tumour is HER2 positive, you may be offered antibody treatment to block HER2 and reduce the risk of your breast cancer recurring.
The study already has enough women taking part. But you can find out about this and other studies of new treatments for breast cancer from the National Cancer Research Network or at Cancer Research UK.
Scientists can make specific antibodies in the laboratory. For cancer treatments, they make antibodies that bind to key proteins on cancer cells. All cells need growth factors in the blood to help them multiply, and cancer cells are no exception.
For these growth factors to work, they need to bind to proteins on cells. By blocking these proteins on cancer cells with antibodies, doctors prevent the growth factors from getting to them.
In breast cancer, the best target protein that scientists have found so far is called human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2). About one in five women with breast cancer have unusually high levels of HER2. This is described as a HER2 positive breast cancer.
If you have breast cancer, you can have a test to see if you have high levels of HER2. If your tumour is HER2 positive, you may be offered antibody treatment to block HER2 and reduce the risk of your breast cancer recurring.
Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
At the moment the only antibody treatment available for breast cancer is called trastuzumab (brand name Herceptin). But researchers are working on other new antibody treatments for breast cancer. Herceptin is now recommended for women with early stage breast cancer as well as those with secondary breast cancer.Antibody treatments studies
In the UK, a study (called HERA) is finding out whether women with high levels of HER2 would benefit from Herceptin treatment after they have had an operation and chemotherapy for primary breast cancer. Initial results of the HERA Trial showed that taking Herceptin for one year reduces the risk of breast cancer recurring. The final analysis of the study and further results from women taking Herceptin for longer than one year is expected in 2008/9.The study already has enough women taking part. But you can find out about this and other studies of new treatments for breast cancer from the National Cancer Research Network or at Cancer Research UK.
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