Trastuzumab emtansine
Trastuzumab emtansine (pronounced traz-TOO-zoo-mab em-TAN-seen) is a cancer drug used in the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. It is a combination of trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody, and emtansine, a chemotherapy drug.
Etymology
The name "Trastuzumab emtansine" is derived from the two drugs that make up this treatment. "Trastuzumab" is named for its target, the HER2/neu receptor, and "emtansine" is derived from maytansine, a naturally occurring substance found in the Ethiopian plant Maytenus serrata.
Usage
Trastuzumab emtansine is used to treat patients with HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer who have previously received trastuzumab and a taxane, separately or in combination. It is administered intravenously.
Mechanism of Action
Trastuzumab emtansine works by binding to the HER2/neu receptors on the surface of cancer cells. The trastuzumab component of the drug then attracts the body's immune system to destroy these cells. The emtansine component, meanwhile, enters the cancer cells and destroys them from within.
Side Effects
Common side effects of trastuzumab emtansine include fatigue, nausea, muscle and joint pain, low platelet count, and elevated liver enzymes. More serious side effects can include heart problems and liver toxicity.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Trastuzumab emtansine
- Wikipedia's article - Trastuzumab emtansine
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