Trastuzumab
- By : Dr. Kareem
- Category : General

Breast Cancer
Adjuvant treatment
- Herceptin, Ogivri
- Indicated for adjuvant treatment of HER-2 overexpressing breast cancer
- See also Administration
- During and following paclitaxel, docetaxel, or docetaxel/carboplatin
- 4 mg/kg IV over 90 min, THEN
- 2 mg/kg IV over 30 min qWeek during chemotherapy for the first 12 weeks (paclitaxel or docetaxel) or 18 weeks (docetaxel/carboplatin)
- One week following the last weekly dose, administer at 6 mg/kg as an IV over 30−90 min q3Weeks
- Administer according to doses and schedules for a total of 52 weeks
- As a single agent within 3 weeks following completion of multi-modality, anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens
- 8 mg/kg IV over 90 min, THEN
- 6 mg/kg as an IV over 30−90 min q3Weeks
- Administer according to doses and schedules for a total of 52 weeks
- Extending adjuvant treatment beyond one year not recommended
Metastatic breast cancer
- Treat as a single agent or in combination with paclitaxel
- 4 mg/kg IV over 90 min, THEN
- 2 mg/kg IV over 30 min, qWeek, continue until disease progression
Gastric Cancer
Herceptin, Ogivri
Indicated for treatment of HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma
See also Administration
Administered in combination with cisplatin and capecitabine or 5-fluorouracil who have not received prior treatment for metastatic disease
8 mg/kg IV; infuse IV over 90 min, THEN
6 mg/kg IV q3wk; infuse IV over 30-90 min, continue until disease progression
Dosage Modifications
Modifications required for serious adverse events, including hypersensitivity reaction (anaphylaxis), infusion reactions (fatalities), decreased left ventricular function, and pulmonary events (ARDS)
Infusion Reactions
- Decrease infusion rate for mild-moderate infusion reactions
- Interrupt infusion if dyspnea or clinically significant hypotension
- Strongly consider permanent discontinuation if severe and life-threatening infusion reactions
Cardiomyopathy
- Assess LVEF prior to initiation and frequently during treatment
- Withhold for at least 4 weeks
- 16% absolute decrease in LVEF from pre-treatment values
- LVEF below institutional limits of normal and ≥10% absolute decrease in LVEF from pretreatment values
- Resume drug if, within 4-8 weeks, the LVEF returns to normal and absolute decrease from baseline is ≤15%
- Permanently discontinue for a persistent (>8 weeks) LVEF decline or for suspension of drug on >3 occasions for cardiomyopathy
Dosing Considerations
Do not substitute ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) for or with trastuzumab (Herceptin); see Black Box Warnings
Patient selection is based on HER2 protein overexpression or HER2 gene amplification; assessment of HER2 protein overexpression and gene amplification should be performed using FDA-approved tests specific for breast or gastric cancers by laboratories with demonstrated proficiency; FDA-approved tests for detection of HER2 protein overexpression and HER2 gene amplification is available at: http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics
See also Administration
Pancreatic Cancer (Orphan)
Herceptin only
Indicated for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer that overexpress p185HER2
Orphan indication sponsor
- Genentech, Inc; 1 DNA Way; South San Francisco, CA 94080-4990
Adverse Effects:
>10% (Metastatic breast cancer)
Pain (47%)
Asthenia (42%)
Fever (36%)
Nausea (33%)
Chills (32%)
Cough (26%)
Headache (26%)
Diarrhea (25%)
Vomiting (23%)
Abdominal pain (22%)
Back pain (22%)
Dyspnea (22%)
Infection (20%)
Rash (18%)
Anorexia (14%)
Insomnia (14%)
Dizziness (13%)
1-10% (Adjuvant Breast Treatment)
Headache (10%)
Nasopharyngitis (8%)
Diarrhea (7%)
Nausea (6%)
Pyrexia (6%)
Peripheral edema (5%)
Back pain (5%)
Chills (5%)
Asthenia (4.5%)
Myalgia (4%)
Hypertension (4%)
Dizziness (4%)
Influenza (4%)
Rash (4%)
Vomiting (3.5%)
Bone pain (3%)
UTI (3%)
Administration:
IV Incompatibilities
Dextrose solutions
Not to be mixed with other drugs
IV Preparation
420 mg multiple-dose vial
- Reconstitute powder with 20 mL of supplied diluent (bacteriostatic water for injection [BWFI]; contains 1.1% benzyl alcohol as a preservative)
- If patient has known hypersensitivity to benzyl alcohol, drug may be reconstituted with sterile water for injection (SWI), but use SWI-reconstituted drug immediately
- Reconstituted vial yields 21 mg/mL
- Slowly inject 20 mL of diluent into vial; stream of diluent should be directed into the lyophilized cake
- Do not shake; swirl vial gently to aid reconstitution
- Slight foaming of the product may be present upon reconstitution; allow vial to stand undisturbed for ~5 minutes
- Solution should be free of visible particulates; appear clear to slightly opalescent and colorless to pale yellow
- See also Storage
150 mg single-dose vial
- Reconstitute with 7.4 mL of Sterile Water for Injection (SWFI) (not supplied) to yield a solution containing 21 mg/mL trastuzumab
- Do not shake; swirl vial gently to aid reconstitution
- Slight foaming of the product may be present upon reconstitution; allow vial to stand undisturbed for ~5 minutes
- Solution should be free of visible particulates; appear clear to slightly opalescent and colorless to pale yellow
Further dilution
- Withdraw calculated dose from reconstituted vial and add to a polyvinylchloride- or polyethylene-bag containing 250 mL 0.9% NaCl
- Gently invert the bag to mix the solution
IV Administration
Not for IV push or bolus administration
Administer initial IV infusion over 90 min
Subsequent weekly IV infusions may be administered over 30 min if prior infusions are well tolerated
Missed dose ≤1 week
- Usual maintenance dose (weekly schedule: 2 mg/kg; three-weekly schedule: 6 mg/kg) should be administered as soon as possible
- Do not wait until next planned cycle
- Subsequent maintenance doses should be administered 7 days or 21 days later according to qWeek or q3Weeks schedule, respectively
Missed dose >1 week
- Reload dose (weekly schedule: 4 mg/kg; three-weekly schedule: 8 mg/kg) over ~90 min, as soon as possible
- Subsequent maintenance doses (weekly schedule: 2 mg/kg; three-weekly schedule 6 mg/kg) should be administered 7 days or 21 days later according to qWeek or q3Weeks schedule, respectively