Am J Health-Syst Pharm
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, Vol. 63, Issue 6, 527-533
Copyright © 2006 by American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kabe, K. L.
Right arrow Articles by Kolesar, J. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Kabe, K. L.
Right arrow Articles by Kolesar, J. M.

Therapy Updates

Role of trastuzumab in adjuvant therapy for locally invasive breast cancer

Katie L. Kabe and Jill M. Kolesar

KATIE L. KABE is a PHARM.D. degree candidate and Jill M. KOLESAR, PHARM.D., BCPS, FCCP, is Associate Professor of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Address correspondence to Dr. Kolesar at the School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53719 (jmkolesar{at}pharmacy.wisc.edu).


Purpose. The role of trastuzumab in adjuvant therapy for locally invasive breast cancer is discussed.

Summary. Trastuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the extracellular domain of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2). Currently, trastuzumab is indicated for use in HER2-positive patients with metastatic breast cancer. Because trastuzumab specifically targets a receptor that is overexpressed in tumor cells, it is less likely to cause the cytotoxic adverse effects of traditional chemotherapy. Cardiotoxicity has been a major concern, however. Several trials were started to evaluate trastuzumab in the adjuvant setting in patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. The interim results of these trials have shown a promising effect of adjuvant therapy with trastuzumab in improving overall survival, disease-free survival, relapse-free survival, and distant-disease-free survival.

Conclusion. The use of trastuzumab as adjuvant therapy in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer can lead to increased survival. The appropriateness of trastuzumab therapy should be considered based on HER2 status, cost, and risk of toxicity.

Index terms: Antibodies; Breast neoplasms; Costs; Mechanism of action; Neoplasm metastasis; Toxicity; Trastuzumab

 





HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2006 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.