Medicine & USMLE

Trastuzumab

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Cancer Drugs
  1. Cyclophosphamide
  2. Methotrexate
  3. Tamoxifen
  4. Cisplatin
  5. Doxorubicin
  6. Imatinib
  7. Paclitaxel
  8. Rituximab
  9. Trastuzumab
  10. 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