title: Study of compliance with prescription information sheet of trastuzumab prescriptions in a tertiary level hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study compares trastuzumab's actual conditions of use in clinical practice with those officially described on its summary of product characteristics. We also measure the cost associated with its use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study of the prescription/indication of trastuzumab in a tertiary hospital from January 2006 to 31 December 2007. We analysed whether trastuzumab use in clinical practice complied with its summary of product characteristics, concerning the following: HER2 over expression, indication (breast cancer), treatment plan, line of treatment, dosage, frequency and number of cycles. To measure cost, we calculated the total number of milligrams used and then multiplied it by the laboratory's sale price per milligram plus VAT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients (n=77) used trastuzumab for breast cancer. Sixty-two point two percent of patients presented with HER2+++ over expression. Twenty-nine treatment plans were used, that were not authorised on the summary of product characteristics. The total trastuzumab cost during the study period was €1537 622.73.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although trastuzumab is always used for breast cancer, it is used in conditions other than those described on its summary of product characteristics, both for HER2 over expression and treatment plans.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Investigación en Atención Farmacéutica Universidad de Granada CTS-131, Granada, España. jaimeevargasrivas@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Vargas-Rivas
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Montes-Casas
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cancela-Diez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martínez-Martínez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sabater-Hernández
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Calleja-Hernández
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000378:metabolism; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004348:Drug Labeling; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011306:Prescription Fees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D013030:Spain; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D017239:Paclitaxel; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D043823:Taxoids; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human