Details

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Trastuzumab 440 mg injection is an anticancer drug which targets human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2).

This medicine requires prescription for buying.

It is very useful in metastatic cancers with raised levels of HER2.

It is a recombinant DNA-derived, humanized monoclonal antibody.

Mechanism of action: It is a monoclonal antibody, which binds to the overexpressed human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) extracellularly and interferes with binding of growth factor leading to controlled growth of the tumor cell.

It is Available as HERCEPTIN in the international market and as HERCLON in the    indian market.

 

Uses

• Trastuzumab 440mg injection is a useful therapeutic agent for breast cancer and is used as a single agent or in combination with other chemotherapy drugs.
• When it is used with Capecitabine in metastatic breast cancer efficacy is highly increased.
• HERCEPTIN is used with cisplatin-containing chemotherapy in metastatic HER2 positive gastric cancer.
• Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma
• Herclon is also used For the treatment of metastatic or locally advanced HER-2/neu-positive breast cancer in combination with Pertuzumab.

 

Dosage

• HERCLON is injected intravenously slowly over an hour by a healthcare professional
• It is given once a week for breast cancers and once in three weeks for gastric cancer.
• Dosage of HERCLON is only determined by the doctor after considering the medical condition and response of the body.
• It should never be self injected.
• HERCLON comes as a 400mg multi use vial containing trastuzumab powder concentrate and solvent vial both are mixed before infusion.

 

Side effects

• Dizziness
• Troubled breathing due to lung toxicity
• Diarrhea
• bodyache
• stomach pain
• Insomnia
• nausea and vomiting
• Tiredness
• Skin rashes
• Infection susceptibility
• Severe cardiomyopathy heart failure and ventricular dysfunction
• Hypertension

 

Precautions

• Trastuzumab 440 mg injection causes cardiac malfunction so it is necessary to tell the doctor about any cardiac disease before starting the treatment.
• It is not recommended during pregnancy as it causes foetal toxicity and in breastfeeding mothers.
• Driving or handling machines must be avoided while taking this drug.
• It is also not recommended in case of allergy and lung infections.
• It should never be confused with Ado-trastuzumab emtansine, which is a different drug.

 

Review

Trastuzumab 440 mg injection increases response rates and duration with 1-year survival.It is still under investigation for other tumors in which HER-2/neu is targeted.

Patients should be monitored carefully for any heart disease complications while taking this drug.

It is an expensive drug as it is manufactured by DNA recombinant technology.