Oncology
HER2-Positive Cancer
Also known as: HER2+ cancer, HER2-amplified cancer
Definition
A type of cancer that tests positive for HER2 protein, which promotes the growth of cancer cells.
Detailed Explanation
HER2 (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2) is overexpressed in about 20-25% of breast cancers and some gastric cancers. HER2-positive cancers tend to grow more aggressively but respond well to HER2-targeted therapies like trastuzumab (Herceptin), pertuzumab (Perjeta), and trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu).