Is tucatinib a targeted drug for the treatment of breast cancer?

Tucatinib (tucatinib) is a targeted drug for breast cancer. It is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), but it is not a hormonal drug. Specifically, tucatinib is a drug that selectively inhibits the HER2 receptor and is mainly used to treat HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Tyrosine kinases are proteins that cells use to signal each other to promote growth. They act as chemical messengers, and blocking these signals can help slow or stop cancer growth.

In some breast cancer patients, tumor cells express too much of the HER2 receptor, which leads to abnormal tumor proliferation and survival. Tucatinib interferes with the normal function of the HER2 signaling pathway by binding to the HER2 receptor and inhibiting its activity. This targeted therapy against HER2 can reduce the proliferation and viability of tumor cells, thereby inhibiting the development and spread of breast cancer. As long as the cancer is not getting worse and side effects are tolerable, treatment can continue. If certain side effects occur, your doctor may recommend reducing your dose of tucatinib, or you may stop treatment temporarily or permanently.

It is understood that the original drug Tucatinib has not yet been launched in China, so it has not entered the scope of domestic medical insurance. Patients in need cannot yet purchase this drug in pharmacies or hospitals. The price of the European version of tucatinib original drug specifications150mg*60 tablets per box listed overseas is around RMB 72,000 (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates), which is expensive. There are also generic drugs of Tucatinib produced in other countries. The price of 150mg*60 tablets per box produced by Laos pharmaceutical factory is around 6,400 RMB (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The price is much cheaper than the original drug, and the ingredients of foreign generic drugs are basically the same as the original drug.