The HER2 proteinOne of the four basic types of biomolecule. Proteins are polymers made up of strings of amino acids. Proteins serve many functions in organisms including transport of molecules, structure, cell adhesion and as signaling molecules such as hormones. Many transcription factors, including p53 and Rb are proteins. is serves as an receiver/transmitter on the surface of cells. Signals from HER2 cause cells to divide. Some cancers (including breast cancer) can have too much HER2 on their surface. Treatments, like Herceptin®, block some of these cancer cells but not all HER2 over-expressing cancers respond to the treatments.
To help determine which cancers are likely to respond to treatmens like Herceptin® researchers have turned to using light. When the right light is directed at the cancer cells, those that are being affected by the treatment emit a different color than those that are resistant to the treatment. If this method is able to work inside patients, those that would not respond to a particular treatment can be quickly identified and treated differently.
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