Researchers are pursuing and developing drugs that work by targeting specific molecules involved in breast cancer development. Some breast cancer cells have an overactive HER2/neu gene which causes overproduction of the HER2/neu protein leading to more aggressive tumors. Drugs that target and inactivate the HER2/neu protein are usually given in combination with other anticancer drugs. They include trastuzumab (Herceptin®) and lapatinib (Tykerb®).
