What are the indications for tucatinib?

Tucatinib (trade name: Tukysa) is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), mainly used to treat HER2 positive breast cancer.

Metastatic Breast Cancer: Tucatinib is approved in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine for the treatment of adult patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including those with brain metastases. These patients had previously received one or more anti-HER2-based treatment regimens in the metastatic setting.

Unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer: Tucatinib is also approved in combination with trastuzumab for the treatment of adult patients with RASwild-type, HER2positive unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer. These patients progressed after receiving fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapy.

Patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer: Tucatinib provides a new treatment option for patients with HER2-positive, advanced or metastatic breast cancer, especially those whose disease has progressed despite prior anti-HER2 therapy.

Patients with brain metastases: Because tucatinib has good blood-brain barrier penetration, it also shows potential therapeutic effects in patients with brain metastases from HER2 positive breast cancer.

Colorectal Cancer Patients: Combination therapy with tucatinib and trastuzumab may be an effective option for patients with HER2-positive, RAS wild-type, unresectable, or metastatic colorectal cancer who have progressed after chemotherapy.

The recommended dose of tucatinib is 300 taken orally per timemg twice daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients should strictly follow their doctor's instructions and be careful not to chew, crush or split the tablets. Adverse reactions that tucatinib may cause include diarrhea, palmar and plantar redness, nausea, hepatotoxicity, vomiting, stomatitis, decreased appetite, anemia, and rash. Patients should closely monitor these adverse reactions during use and report to their doctors in a timely manner.

Pregnant women, lactating women, women of childbearing potential, and male patients need special caution when using tucatinib because the drug may cause harm to the fetus and may affect fertility. The elderly and patients with liver and kidney dysfunction also need to adjust the dose or monitor relevant indicators when using it.

References:

https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB11652