The Food
and Drug Administration has approved Herceptin (trastuzumab, Genentech,
Inc.), a new drug engineered to fight advanced breast cancer.
Herceptin seems to bring new hope, especially for some 30% of women with
metastatic breast cancer showing aggressive HER-2 tumors. HER-2 is a gene which, when
present im multiple copies in a single cell, leads to an overproduction of HER2 protein,
responsible for anarchic growth of normal and cancerous cells. Herceptin works by binding
to the HER2 receptors of the cancer cells to prevent them from growing.
According to the manufacturer, Genentech Inc., about 50,000
women in the States could benefit from this drug, and gain significant life extension.
Patients may be given Herceptin intravenously once a week.
Herceptin side effects are minor and include chills and fever, but unlike chemotherapy, it
is not associated with nausea, vomiting or hair loss. Combined with standard treatment,
Herceptin can almost double the chances that tumors shrink in about 15 % of the cases.
Herceptin is expected to be available next month on the
shelves. Final price hasn't been finalized yet.
