Trastuzumab side effects

Trastuzumab (Trastuzumab) is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to the extracellular domain of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 protein HER2 with high affinity. Trastuzumab is produced in mammalian cell cultures through recombinant DNA technology. Trastuzumab for injection is a sterile, white to light yellow, preservative-free, freeze-dried powder with a cake-shaped appearance for intravenous administration.

The most common adverse reactions in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving adjuvant trastuzumab are pyrexia, nausea, vomiting, infusion reactions, diarrhea, infection, worsening cough, headache, fatigue, dyspnea, rash, neutropenia, anemia, and myalgia. Interruption or discontinuation of trastuzumab is required (adverse effects of treatment include heart failure, significant decrease in left ventricular function, serious infusion reactions, and pulmonary toxicity.

In the setting of metastatic gastric cancer, the most common adverse reactions that were increased (≥10%) with trastuzumab compared with chemotherapy alone were neutropenia, diarrhea, fatigue, anemia, stomatitis, weight loss, upper respiratory tract infection, pyrexia, thrombocytopenia, mucosal inflammation, nasopharyngitis, and dysgeusia. In the absence of disease progression, the most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation of trastuzumab-containing therapy are infection, diarrhea, and febrile neutropenia.

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 ingredients of domestic and foreign original drugs are basically the same. For specific prices and drug details, you can consult a medical consultant. Currently, there are no generic trastuzumab drugs on the market.