Monoclonal antibodyFDA-approvedFirst-line

Trastuzumab

How it works

Binds the HER2 receptor on cancer cells, blocking growth signals and flagging the cells for immune destruction.

Cancer types

Breast CancerHER2-positive

Efficacy

In clinical trials, around 50% of HER2-positive patients achieved an objective response, with median progression-free survival of approximately 11 months.

Side effects

Mild

Most people tolerate this treatment well. Side effects are generally manageable and do not require stopping treatment.

Evidence from research

StudyCancer typeStageEfficacy
Combining Two Treatments May Help Fight Aggressive Breast CancerBreast Cancerlab-studySource →
Testing a Combination Treatment for HER2 Positive Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-1Source →
Testing a New Treatment for Advanced Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-2Source →
12 Months vs. 6 Months of HER2-targeted Medications for HER2+ Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-3Source →
Monitoring Heart Health in Breast Cancer Patients on Trastuzumab TherapyBreast CancerpreclinicalSource →
Study of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Various CancersLung Cancerphase-1/2Source →
Testing a Combination of Medications for HER2-Positive Early-Stage Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-2Source →
Study of Tucatinib and Trastuzumab-Pertuzumab for Metastatic HER2+ Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-3Source →
Testing Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for Recurrent Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancerphase-2Source →
Durvalumab, Trastuzumab, and Pertuzumab in HER2-Enriched Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-2Source →
Testing Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for Metastatic Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-3Source →
Study of Atezolizumab, Pertuzumab, and Trastuzumab in HER2-positive Breast Cancer with Brain MetastasesBreast Cancerphase-2Source →
Testing Elacestrant and Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Metastatic Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-1/2Source →
Evaluating Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for HER2 Mutations in Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancerphase-3Source →
Trastuzumab May Not Protect Kidneys in Breast Cancer PatientsBreast CancerobservationalSource →
Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab Combination Shows Promise in Urothelial CancerOvarian Cancerphase-2The disease control rate was 37% in the urothelial cancer cohort.Source →
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Shows Promise in Lung Cancer with Acquired HER2 AmplificationLung CancerobservationalA partial response was achieved with reduced-dose Trastuzumab deruxtecan.Source →
Cardiac Risks in Breast Cancer Patients on Combination TherapyBreast CancerobservationalSource →
New Treatment Combination Shows Promise for HER2 Positive Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-3Overall survival was longer in the pyrotinib group (hazard ratio 0.64 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46 to 0.89); nominal one-sided P=0.004).Source →
Testing a Combination Therapy for ER-Positive, HER-2 Positive Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-2Source →
Comparing Infection Risks of Two Breast Cancer TreatmentsBreast CancerobservationalSource →
Testing Sotorasib and Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for Lung Cancer with KRAS G12C MutationLung Cancerphase-1Source →
Trial Tests Combo Cancer TreatmentBreast Cancerphase-1Source →
Ebastine May Help Overcome Resistance to Trastuzumab in HER2-Positive Breast CancerBreast Cancerlab-studySource →
Researchers Identify New Ways Cancer Cells Resist TreatmentBreast Cancerlab-studySource →
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Resistance Varies in HER2-Amplified vs. HER2-Low Breast CancerBreast Cancerlab-studySource →
Dual HER2 Blockade Improves Outcomes in HER2-Positive Breast CancerBreast Cancermeta-analysisThe P + H arm showed significant improvements in 3-year EFS rate (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00-1.16, p = 0.04), 5-year EFS rate (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.20, p = 0.03), and 5-year DFS rate (RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.99-1.20).Source →
EMP3 Expression Linked to Poor Prognosis in HER2-Enriched Breast CancerBreast Cancerlab-studySource →
New Treatment Option for Rare Lung Cancer TransformationLung CancerpreclinicalThe patient had a partial response with a progression-free survival of 13.1 months.Source →
Researchers Report Two Cases of Complete Metabolic Responses to New Cancer TreatmentLung CancerobservationalSource →
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Shows Promise in Lung Cancer TreatmentLung CancerobservationalThe median progression-free survival was 7.85 months, and the objective response rate was 51.4%.Source →
New Cancer Treatment Shows Promise in Breast and Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancerphase-3Source →
Trastuzumab Emtansine Efficacy and Safety in HER2-Positive Breast CancerBreast CancerobservationalThe 4-years disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 92.5% (95%CI=[87;98]).Source →
Comparing Heart Risks of Cancer Treatments for ERBB2-Positive Breast CancerBreast Cancermeta-analysisThe pooled analysis demonstrated a 0.94% incidence of LVEF decrease with trastuzumab emtansine, a 4.20% incidence with trastuzumab deruxtecan, a 4.85% incidence with trastuzumab plus chemotherapy, and a 5.52% incidence with trastuzumab plus pertuzumab plus chemotherapy.Source →
Metabolites Linked to Trastuzumab Resistance in Breast CancerBreast Cancerlab-studySource →
European Study on Lung Disease Risk with Breast Cancer TreatmentBreast CancerobservationalSource →
Combining Trastuzumab Deruxtecan and Abiraterone Shows Promise in Prostate CancerProstate CancerobservationalSource →
Reducing Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Dose May Not Harm Metastatic Breast Cancer PatientsBreast CancerobservationalThe overall median real-world progression-free survival was 8.1 months.Source →
New Study Compares Cancer Treatment Effectiveness in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer PatientsBreast Cancerphase-3Seven-year invasive disease-free survival was 80.8% with T-DM1 and 67.1% with trastuzumab (difference, 13.7 percentage points).Source →
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Shows Promise in Treating HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Brain MetastasesBreast Cancermeta-analysisThe overall antitumor response rate was 60.4%, and the disease control rate was 94.4%.Source →
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Shows Promise in Treating Advanced Lung CancerLung Cancermeta-analysisT-DXd showed a 100% probability of being the best treatment for progression-free survival, ≥59% for overall survival, and ≥80% for overall response rate.Source →
New Treatment Options for Advanced HER2-Positive Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-3Median overall survival for patients in the tucatinib arm was 21.9 months compared with 17.4 months for patients in the control arm.Source →
New Imaging Agent Shows Promise for Cancer DetectionMelanomaanimal-studySource →
New Treatment Strategy for Trastuzumab-Resistant Breast CancerBreast Cancerlab-studySource →
New Treatment Option for Advanced Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-3The median progression-free survival was 13.2 months in the trastuzumab deruxtecan group and 8.1 months in the chemotherapy group.Source →
Subcutaneous Trastuzumab/Pertuzumab Shortens Patient Treatment TimeBreast Cancerphase-2SC administration of HP shortened patient time burden by approximately 1 hour.Source →
New Hope for Lung Cancer Patients with HER2 AlterationsLung CancerreviewSource →
New Combination Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Pancreatic CancerPancreatic Cancerlab-studySource →
Trastuzumab Therapy May Benefit Some HER2-Positive Breast Cancer PatientsBreast CancerobservationalThe 5-year disease-free survival rate was 91.76% in patients with lower SII levels who received trastuzumab, compared to 82.76% in those with higher SII levels.Source →
Trastuzumab Cardiotoxicity in Breast Cancer PatientsBreast CancerobservationalSource →
New Study Compares Treatments for Early Stage HER2-Positive Breast CancerBreast Cancerphase-2Patients treated with T-DM1 had better disease-free survival.Source →

This information is provided for general education only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.