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BioDrugs
Published in: BioDrugs 2/2016

01-04-2016 | Review Article

Trastuzumab in the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Authors: Sofia Maximiano, Paulo Magalhães, Mara Pereira Guerreiro, Manuel Morgado

Published in: BioDrugs | Issue 2/2016

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Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide, and has an undeniable negative impact on public health. The advent of molecular biology and immunotherapy has made targeted therapeutic interventions possible, providing treatments tailored to the individual characteristics of the patient and the disease. The over-expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 2 is implicated in the pathophysiology of BC and represents a clinically relevant biomarker for its treatment. Trastuzumab, a recombinant antibody targeting HER2, was the first biological drug approved for the treatment of HER2-positive BC. Although there are currently other anti-HER2 agents available (e.g. pertuzumab and lapatinib), trastuzumab remains the gold standard for treatment of this disease subtype. Nonetheless, concerns have been raised regarding potential cardiotoxicity and treatment resistance. Moreover, several other therapeutic issues remain unclear and have been addressed in an inconsistent way. The current literature lacks a comprehensive review of trastuzumab providing useful information for clinical practice, including pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects, its clinical use, existing controversies and future advances. This detailed review of trastuzumab in the pharmacotherapy of BC attempts to fill this gap.
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Metadata
Title
Trastuzumab in the Treatment of Breast Cancer
Authors
Sofia Maximiano
Paulo Magalhães
Mara Pereira Guerreiro
Manuel Morgado
Publication date
01-04-2016
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
BioDrugs / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1173-8804
Electronic ISSN: 1179-190X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40259-016-0162-9

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