What is HER2-positive breast cancer?

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I can provide you with general information on HER2-positive breast cancer and its treatment as follows:

HER2-positive breast cancer is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This protein promotes the growth of cancer cells.

In HER2-positive breast cancer, the HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) gene does not work correctly and makes too many copies of itself. These extra HER2 genes make too many proteins known as HER2 receptors. These HER2 receptors are like ears, or antennae, on the surface of the breast cells. The HER2 receptors receive signals that stimulate the cell to grow and multiply. However, breast cancer cells with too many HER2 receptors can pick up too many growth signals. This makes breast cells grow and divide too fast in an uncontrolled way.

Treatment HER2-positive (HER2+)

Anti-HER2 therapies (also called HER2 inhibitors or HER2-targeted therapies) are a class of medicines used to treat all stages of HER2-positive breast cancer, from early-stage to metastatic, as well as certain HER2-low breast cancers. Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Anti-HER2 medicines attach to the HER2 receptor proteins on the surface of breast cancer cells. As anti-HER2 medicines specifically target HER2 receptors, you may hear them referred to as “HER2-targeted therapies.” There are also other types of targeted therapies that target different receptors. Anti-HER2 medicines work by blocking the HER2 receptors from receiving the growth signals in HER2-positive breast cancer. By blocking the growth signals, anti-HER2 medicines can slow or stop the growth of HER2-positive and HER2-low breast cancer. Anti-HER2 medicines only work on HER2-positive and HER2-low breast cancer. They do not work on HER2-negative breast cancer.

There are many different medicines that target HER2 receptors in breast cancer cells. Many HER2 inhibitors are given in combination with other treatments. Some anti-HER2 medicines, called “antibody-drug conjugates”, are made with HER2 inhibitors and have other medicines attached to them. Some of these anti-HER2 medicines also carry chemotherapy directly to the HER2-positive cancer cells, which helps protect healthy cells from the toxic effects of chemotherapy.

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