see also Trastuzumab deruxtecan.
Trastuzumab (INN; trade names Herclon, Herceptin) is a monoclonal antibody that interferes with the HER2/neu receptor. Its main use is to treat HER2-positive breast cancer.
A 2014 Cochrane Review examined the safety and efficacy of trastuzumab-containing combination therapies (with chemotherapy, hormone blockers, or lapatinib) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The overall hazard ratios for overall survival and progression-free survival were 0.82 and 0.61 respectively. It was difficult to accurately ascertain the true impact of trastuzumab on survival, as in three of the seven trials, over half of the patients in the control arm were allowed to cross over and receive trastuzumab after their cancer began to progress.
Thus this analysis likely underestimates the true survival benefit associated with trastuzumab treatment in this population.
In these trials, trastuzumab also increased the risk of heart problems, including heart failure (RR 3.49) and left ventricular ejection fraction decline (RR 2.65).
In the early stage (curable) HER2-positive breast cancer, trastuzumab-containing regimens improved overall survival (HR 0.66) and disease-free survival (HR 0.60) relative to comparator arms involving treatment with placebo or chemotherapy. Increased risk of heart failure (RR 5.11) and decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (RR 1.83) was seen in these trials as well. Two trials involving shorter-term treatment with trastuzumab did not differ in efficacy from longer trials but produced less cardiac toxicity.
It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system.
The wholesale price is between 1,800.00 and 1,955.00 USD per vial.