• Biological therapies are antibodies that block specific proteins that cause cancer proliferation.

  • Herceptin or Trastuzumab is given to patients with breast tumor that has too much of a specific protein known as HER2. HER2 stands for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2. By blocking HER2, it can slow or stop the growth of the cancer cells.
  • Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It is used in the treatment of cancer, where it inhibits tumor growth by blocking the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis).

Sources:

The cancer treatment information is made possible through grant from Boeing.
The article has been reviewed by Associate Prof. Dr. Nur Aishah Binti Mohd Taib, Consultant Breast Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur