Medicine & USMLE

Trastuzumab

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Cancer Drugs
  1. General Chemo Side Effects
  2. Busulfan
  3. Cyclophosphamide
  4. Methotrexate
  5. Tamoxifen
  6. Cisplatin
  7. Doxorubicin
  8. Imatinib
  9. Paclitaxel
  10. Rituximab
  11. Trastuzumab
  12. Vincristine

Summary

Trastuzumab is a medication used to treat HER-2 positive breast cancer. Side effects include cardiotoxicity, specifically heart failure. Trastuzumab may also cause an infusion related reaction that lessens over time with subsequent infusions.

Key Points

  • Trastuzumab
    • Mechanism
      • Binds to and inhibits the human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER-2)
    • Clinical Use
      • Breast Cancer
      • Endometrial and ovarian cancer
      • Colon cancer
    • Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
      • Cardiotoxicity
        • Heart failure
          • Monitor for signs of heart failure such as fluid retention/edema
      • Infusion-related reaction
        • Initial infusion may cause headache, dizziness, hypotension, fever, chills, and nausea. These symptoms will diminish with each subsequent infusion.
      • Pulmonary toxicity
      • Headache
      • Muscle ache
      • Loss of appetite