[Indications for Herceptin in breast cancer treatment]

Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is the first clinically available oncogene-targeted therapy to produce a significant survival advantage in advanced breast cancer. This monoclonal humanized antibody is indicated as a single-agent second-line or third-line treatment or in combination with paclitaxel for metastatic breast cancer with HER2 gene amplification or high overexpression of HER2 (3+ on immunohistochemistry). Assessment with regular monitoring of the left-ventricular function during therapy is necessary to detect and manage potential cardiac dysfunction. International randomized trials in the adjuvant setting are ongoing.