title: Trastuzumab.
abstract: Trastuzumab is standard of care in the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2⁺ early and advanced breast cancer. Recently, it has been approved for the treatment of HER-2⁺ advanced gastric cancer. Trastuzumab is an IgG1 humanized monoclonal antibody administered by intravenous infusion on a weekly or three weekly schedule. In all registered indications, trastuzumab is almost always given in combination with chemotherapy. In hormonal receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women, trastuzumab can be combined with an aromatase inhibitor. Main toxicity is reduction in the left ventricular ejection fraction, which in a minority of patients can become symptomatic, but in many patients is at least partly reversible. Long-term safety needs to be further determined.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.schellens@nki.nl
authors.forename: Annelies H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Boekhout
authors.forename: Jos H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Beijnen
authors.forename: Jan H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Schellens
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000068878:Trastuzumab; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human