top of page

Treating HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Nam Rak Hospital is committed to providing care to HER 2- Positive breast cancer patients with international standards under the care of a team of expert doctors and modern technology to ensure that patients receive the most effective treatment.

What is HER2-Positive Breast Cancer?

HER 2- Positive breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that overexpresses the HER 2 protein, which stimulates cancer cells to grow and divide rapidly.

Targeted Therapy: Hope for HER 2- Positive Breast Cancer Patients

Targeted therapy is an innovative cancer treatment that directly kills cancer cells. It targets the HER 2 protein to inhibit cancer cell growth, significantly increasing patient survival.

What drugs are used for HER2-positive targeted therapy?

  1. Monoclonal Antibodies

· Trastuzumab (Herceptin): The first drug approved in 1998, it works by binding to the HER 2 protein on the surface of cancer cells to stop their growth.

· Pertuzumab: Used in combination with Trastuzumab to enhance HER 2 inhibition. Often used together in early and metastatic disease.

  1. Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs): Drugs that act inside cells to block the activity of HER 2, such as:

  2. Lapatinib: Use in metastatic disease

  3. Neratinib and Tucatinib: Can be used in both early and metastatic disease.

  4. Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs): Drugs that combine the precision of a targeted drug with a chemotherapy drug to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to cancer cells, such as:

  5. T-DM 1 ( Trastuzumab emtansine): Used in metastatic disease and in patients with surviving cancer cells after preoperative treatment.

  6. T-DXd (Trastuzumab deruxtecan): A new and highly effective drug.

 

Treatment guidelines at Nam Rak Hospital (based on international standards):

 

1. Neoadjuvant Therapy: Used in patients with large tumors (≥ 2 cm) or with spread to lymph nodes, to help shrink the tumor and increase the chance of breast conserving surgery.

2. Adjuvant Therapy:

· De-escalation: For low-risk patients, such as small early-stage tumors, only Paclitaxel and Trastuzumab may be used to reduce side effects.

· Escalation therapy: For patients with high risk, such as large tumors or lymph node metastases , trastuzumab may be used in combination with pertuzumab.

3. Residual Disease Management: Patients who still have cancer cells remaining after preoperative treatment are treated with T-DM 1 to reduce the risk of recurrence.

 

Follow-up and holistic care:

Nam Rak Hospital emphasizes close follow-up to ensure patients have a good quality of life through radiological examinations, blood tests to monitor the recurrence of the disease ( ctDNA) in cases with indications, and physical and mental health rehabilitation.

 

Why choose Nam Rak Hospital?

  • Global Standards-Based Treatment: Uses NCCN and ASCO guidelines and incorporates the latest research findings such as APHINITY, KATHERINE , and PHERGain into treatment.

  • Cutting-edge technology: Molecular analysis and AI use are increasing the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment planning.

  • Specialist Medical Team: A multidisciplinary team with experience and expertise working closely together.

Comments


Commenting has been turned off.
bottom of page