What is HER2 receptor?

HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a type of protein that is found on the surface of some cells, including breast cells. HER2 receptors play a critical role in cell growth and division, and they are involved in the development and progression of some types of cancer. HER2-positive breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that tests positive for HER2 overexpression or amplification. HER2-positive breast cancer is more aggressive than HER2-negative breast cancer and requires targeted treatments that specifically block the HER2 receptor. Targeted therapies for HER2-positive breast cancer include drugs such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), pertuzumab (Perjeta), and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla), which can improve outcomes for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.