Trastuzumab resistance management

Trastuzumab (Trastuzumab) is an effective drug, but resistance may develop during treatment, causing the drug to become ineffective. If a patient develops resistance to trastuzumab, doctors may consider using other HER2-targeted drugs as an alternative to trastuzumab. For example, Lapatinib and Pertuabmab are commonly used alternative treatments.

Combining other chemotherapy drugs or targeted drugs with trastuzumab can increase the effectiveness of treatment and reduce the risk of resistance. Combination therapy can act on tumor cells through different mechanisms and improve the therapeutic effect. Resistance can be overcome by adjusting the dose or frequency of trastuzumab administration. This may require careful evaluation and monitoring to ensure that the patient tolerates the increased dose or frequency. If a patient has not taken trastuzumab in a week or less, the usual maintenance dose (weekly schedule: 2 mg/kg; three-week schedule: 6 mg/kg) should be administered as soon as possible without waiting for the next scheduled cycle. However, everyone’s physique is different and their resistance to drugs is also different. If you feel unwell, please inform your doctor in time.

Trastuzumab is sold under the brand name Herceptin in China and has entered the scope of Class B medical insurance, but it may be limited to patients who meet the indications for this drug, such as patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer and its adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment or HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer. The price is around 6,000 yuan. The original trastuzumab drug has also been launched overseas. The drug ingredients of domestic and foreign original drugs are basically the same. For specific prices and drug details, you can consult the medical consultant. There is currently no generic drug of trastuzumab on the market.