trastuzumabderuxtecan

Trastuzumab deruxtecan, also known by its brand name Enhertu, is a targeted therapy medication used to treat certain types of cancer. It is a type of drug known as an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). This means it combines a targeted antibody with a potent chemotherapy drug. The antibody component, trastuzumab, is designed to specifically bind to a protein called HER2, which is found on the surface of some cancer cells. Once trastuzumab binds to HER2, it delivers the attached chemotherapy drug, deruxtecan, directly into the cancer cell. This targeted delivery aims to kill cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells, potentially reducing side effects.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan is primarily used for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be surgically removed, and for HER2-low metastatic breast cancer. It is also indicated for HER2-mutant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The effectiveness of trastuzumab deruxtecan is determined by testing the tumor for HER2 overexpression or amplification. Like all medications, it can cause side effects, which may include fatigue, nausea, hair loss, and decreased blood cell counts. It is administered intravenously.