Biological Therapy for Breast Cancer: Herceptin & Antibodies生物疗法治疗乳腺癌：赫赛汀与抗体

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Monday, 24 December 2007星期一， 2007年12月24日

Biological therapy uses the body's own immune system to act on cancer cells - while leaving healthy cells unaffected.生物疗法利用人体自身的免疫系统采取行动的癌细胞-同时使健康的细胞不受影响。 Theoretically, this approach minimizes side effects.从理论上说，这种做法最大限度地减少副作用。 Many of these treatments are still experimental.许多这些治疗仍然实验。 The idea is to use antibodies to attack cancer cells.这个想法是利用抗体来攻击癌细胞。

One such antibody is Herceptin, which is a monoclonal (meaning single) antibody.这样一个抗体赫赛汀，这是一种单克隆（指单）抗体。 An antibody is a protein made by the body's own immune system.抗体是一种蛋白质所提出的人体自身的免疫系统。 Herceptin is believed to act in three ways to stop cancer cells from growing quickly and out of control:赫赛汀被认为行为三种方式阻止癌细胞生长迅速，失去控制：

It sticks to special receptors on the cancer cells, stopping them from growing.它坚持特殊受体的肿瘤细胞，阻止他们从不断增长。
It signals the body's own natural killer cells to attack the cancer cells.它标志着人体自身的自然杀伤细胞攻击癌细胞。
It can work with chemotherapy medications, stopping cancer cells damaged by chemo from repairing themselves.它可以与化疗药物，阻止癌细胞的化疗受损的修复自己。

But Herceptin can work only if the woman carries the HER-2 gene in those tumor cells.赫赛汀可以，但只有当该名女子携带她的- 2基因在这些肿瘤细胞。 About 25% of breast cancer patients carry this gene.大约25 ％的乳腺癌患者携带这种基因。 (They are considered HER-2 positive). （他们认为她- 2阳性）。 It currently is the first-line treatment of HER-2-positive metastatic breast cancer in combination with Taxol (paclitaxel).目前，它是第一线治疗的她- 2阳性转移性乳腺癌结合紫杉醇（紫杉醇）。

Other types of antibodies that are being researched to fight cancer include:其他类型的抗体，目前正在研究，以对抗癌症包括：

Angiogenesis inhibitors.血管生成抑制剂。 These antibodies prevent the growth of new blood vessels, cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells.这些抗体阻止新血管生长的，切断了供应氧气和营养癌细胞。
Signal transduction inhibitors.信号转导抑制剂。 These antibodies block signals inside the cancer cell that helps the cells divide, stopping the cancer from growing.这些抗体阻止内部信号的肿瘤细胞，帮助细胞分裂，阻止癌细胞的生长。

Side Effects副作用

Side effects can include allergic reactions, difficulty breathing, swelling, nausea, fever or chills, and dizziness or weakness.副作用包括过敏反应，呼吸困难，肿胀，恶心，发热或发冷，头晕或弱点。 Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects to watch for.向您的医生对可能带来的副作用的关注。

Recognizing a Cancer Emergency认识到癌症的紧急

Call your nurse or doctor if you have:打电话给您的护士或医生如果您有：

A temperature greater than 100 F. If you experience any fever and chills, notify your doctor immediately.温度大于100楼如果您遇到任何发烧和发冷，通知你的医生立即。 If you are unable to contact your doctor, go to the emergency room.如果您不能与您的医生，去急诊室。
If you notice in your mouth new sores, patches, swollen tongue or bleeding gums.如果您发现在你的嘴新的褥疮，补丁，肿胀的舌头或牙龈出血。
If you experience a dry, burning, scratchy, or "swollen" throat.如果您遇到干燥，焚烧，发痒，或“肿”的喉咙。
A cough that is new or persistent and produces mucus.咳嗽这是新的或持久性和生产粘液。
Changes in bladder function, including increased frequency or urgency to go; burning during urination; or blood in your urine.变化的膀胱功能，包括增加频率或紧迫感去;燃烧排尿过程中或血液中的尿。
Changes in gastrointestinal function, including heart burn; nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea that lasts longer than two or three days; or blood in stools.的变化胃肠道功能，包括心脏病烧伤;恶心，呕吐，便秘，或腹泻持续时间超过两天或三天;或血液中大便。