Herceptin The introduction in 1998 of trastuzumab (Herceptin) for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer was a pivotal advance in the modern era of targeted therapy. (more) targeted therapy medicine Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/targeted-therapy Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Kara Rogers Kara Rogers is the senior editor of biomedical sciences at Encyclopædia Britannica, where she oversees a range of content from medicine and genetics to microorganisms. She joined Britannica in 2006 and... Kara Rogers Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Nov. 14, 2025 •History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot targeted therapy, form of cancer treatment that uses drugs designed to inhibit or otherwise attack a specific molecular anomaly that drives cancer cell growth, division, or metastasis. This approach differs from traditional chemotherapy in that it is selective, working against cells carrying the disease-related target while leaving healthy cells unaffected. Targeted therapy is a fundamental component of precision medicine, in which genetic, molecular, and other biological information is used to predict and prevent disease and...

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