What does HER2-negative mean in breast cancer? In normal cells, HER2 helps control cell growth. Cancer cells that are HER2 negative may grow more slowly and are less likely to recur (come back) or spread to other parts of the body than cancer cells that have a large amount of HER2 on their surface.
What is the survival rate of HER2-negative breast cancer? Survival rates can vary based off of the subtype of breast cancer that you have. A publication from the American Cancer Society reports 5-year survival rates for HER2-negative breast cancers as: 92 percent for HER2-negative, HR-positive breast cancer. 77 percent for triple-negative breast cancer.
What treatment is used for HER2-negative breast cancer? Hormonal therapy is considered the standard initial treatment for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer that is also hormone receptor-positive. It is often given in combination with targeted therapy. However, chemotherapy may also be given. A clinical trial may also be an option for treatment at any stage.
Is HER2-negative better than positive? Breast cancer cells with higher than normal levels of HER2 are called HER2-positive. These cancers tend to grow and spread faster than breast cancers that are HER2-negative, but are much more likely to respond to treatment with drugs that target the HER2 protein.
What does HER2-negative mean in breast cancer? – Additional Questions
Do you need chemo if you are HER2-negative?
Many women with hormone-positive, HER2-negative, lymph node-negative early-stage breast cancer who have intermediate risk of cancer recurrence do not need chemotherapy. The exception is that some women who are younger than 50 may benefit when chemotherapy is added to hormone therapy.
Does HER2-negative change positive?
In some cases the hormone receptor status or HER2 status changed from positive to negative. In other cases the hormone receptor status or HER2 status changed from negative to positive. These changes would definitely affect treatment choices.
Is it better to be hormone receptor positive or negative?
Hormone receptor-positive cancers tend to grow more slowly than those that are hormone receptor-negative. Women with hormone receptor-positive cancers tend to have a better outlook in the short-term, but these cancers can sometimes come back many years after treatment.
Is HER2 hereditary?
HER2-positive breast cancer is not hereditary, but some other types of gene mutations related to breast cancer are inherited. Genetic testing can tell you if you have any of the mutations currently known to increase risk for breast cancer or other cancers.
What does ER-positive and HER2-negative mean?
In general, ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancers that are low grade, strongly ER and progesterone receptor (PR) positive, with low measures of proliferation have a good prognosis with endocrine treatment alone.
What percentage is considered ER positive?
Guidelines for the use of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy recently recommended that estrogen receptor (ER) status be considered positive if ≥1% of tumor cells demonstrate positive nuclear staining by immunohistochemistry. In clinical practice, a range of thresholds are used; a common one is 10% positivity.
Does Chemo shorten your life expectancy?
During the 3 decades, the proportion of survivors treated with chemotherapy alone increased from 18% in 1970-1979 to 54% in 1990-1999, and the life expectancy gap in this chemotherapy-alone group decreased from 11.0 years (95% UI, 9.0-13.1 years) to 6.0 years (95% UI, 4.5-7.6 years).
Does HER2-positive mean metastatic?
Since this protein can make cancer cells grow more quickly, it’s natural to worry that your HER2-positive breast cancer might spread, or “metastasize.” If breast cancer spreads to other parts of your body, doctors call it “metastatic.” That means it’s at a more advanced stage than if it’s only in your breasts.
How long can you live with HER2?
The survival rate among patients differ based on the molecular subtype and stage. The survival rate at four years among women with HR+/HER2− is estimated to be 92.5%, followed by HR+/HER2+ at 90.3%, HR−/HER2+ at 82.7%, and HR−/HER2− at 77.0% [1].
What cancers are caused by HER2?
Cancers that may be HER2 positive include breast, bladder, pancreatic, ovarian, and stomach cancers. Also called c-erbB-2 positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive.
Do all breast cells have HER2?
All breast cells have HER2 proteins, which are receptors that control how the cells grow and divide.
Why is HER2 important?
HER2 is an important member of a complex signaling network and when gene amplified results in an aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Patients with tumors found to overexpress HER2 protein or to be amplified for the gene are candidates for therapy that significantly improves mortality.
What does HER2 do in the body?
HER2 is found in all human cells. It controls cell growth and repair. High levels of HER2 are found in some types of breast, oesophageal and stomach cancer, which helps the cancer cells grow and survive. These are known as HER2 positive cancers.
What is the next treatment after chemotherapy?
Maintenance therapy is the ongoing treatment of cancer with medication after the cancer has responded to the first recommended treatment. Maintenance therapy, sometimes called continuous therapy, is used for the following reasons: To prevent the cancer’s return.
Where is HER2 found?
The HER2 receptor is a 1255 amino acid, 185 kD transmembrane glycoprotein located at the long arm of human chromosome 17 (17q12) [6].
Can you be HER2-positive and estrogen positive?
Abstract. Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer is generally treated with HER2-targeted therapy combined with chemotherapy. Patients with HER2+ and estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) cancer are additionally treated with long-term hormone therapy.
How do you get HER2?
This is caused by a mutation in the HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) gene. When the HER2 gene mutates, it causes cells in the breast to grow and divide at an uncontrolled rate, leading to tumor growth.
