What does Her 2 neu mean?

The term Her 2 neu oncogene overexpression means that your cancer cells carry a particular cancer causing gene (oncogene). It is also called being HER2 positive. Overexpression means that the gene is permanently switched on. Her 2 neu is a relatively recent discovery. Scientists have discovered that breast cancers with this oncogene are faster growing and more likely to become resistant to chemotherapy. Somewhere between 20 and 25 out of every 100 women diagnosed with early breast cancer (20 to 25%) show overexpression of this gene. Up to 3 out of 10 women with breast cancer that has spread (30%) have high levels of HER2.

Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is a treatment for breast cancer that targets the Her 2 neu oncogene. Herceptin is a type of monoclonal antibody. This is an antibody made in the laboratory which targets cells that carry the Her 2 neu gene.

There is detailed information about genes and cancer in the about cancer section.