Her-2/neu and Breast Cancer
This is the shorthand name for human epidermal growth factor receptor and is also known as c-erbB-2. The presence of this protein receptor is associated with a worse prognosis in breast cancer. There are several different tests used to detect the presence of this protein but the usual method is to sample the tumor directly or to take a blood sample.
Approximately 10%-35% of breast cancers are positive for this protein. Herceptin is commonly used to treat patients who are postive for her-2/neu but for reasons not understood only about 35% of patients respond to Herceptin.
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