Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine (Kadcyla)
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) is the targeted therapy
trastuzumab (Herceptin) with the chemotherapy medicine
emtansine attached. It may also be called T-DM1.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is an antibody-drug conjugate, a treatment that pairs a chemotherapy medicine with a targeted therapy. The trastuzumab helps deliver the chemotherapy directly to the tumor
cells. This helps limit the side effects of the chemotherapy on the healthy cells.
Who Gets Ado-trastuzumab Emtansine
The FDA approved ado-trastuzumab
emtansine for treatment of metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer that has grown despite treatment with trastuzumab and taxane chemotherapy.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is also approved to treat early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer. It is only given in early-stage breast cancer
if a person has already been given trastuzumab and chemotherapy
before surgery
, and breast cancer was still found at the time of surgery.
How Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine Works
Trastuzumab attaches to the HER2 protein
, allowing the chemotherapy
emtansine to enter the cancer cell
. Once inside the cell, the emtansine becomes active and kills the cell. This way, ado-trastuzumab emtansine causes cancer cells to die, while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
How Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine Is Given
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is given by vein
once every 3 weeks. For metastatic
breast cancer, treatment continues as long as it controls the cancer, or until severe side effects develop. For early-stage breast cancer
, it is given for 14 cycles.
Side Effects and Things to Remember
Common side effects of ado-trastuzumab emtansine include
- bone and joint pain
- diarrhea
or constipation
- liver problems
- low platelet count, which may result in bruising
- low potassium levels
- low red blood cell count
, which may result in fatigue and weakness
- nausea or stomach ache
- neuropathy, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Some people who take ado-trastuzumab emtansine develop a low white blood count, which may put you at risk for infection. Call your doctor right away if you show any symptoms of infection, such as a fever with chills.
If you have serious side effects, your doctor may stop treatment for a time or switch you to another treatment.
Before starting ado-trastuzumab emtansine, tell your doctor about any history of heart or lung problems as well as any medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbal supplements and over-the-counter medicines. You should not become pregnant while taking ado-trastuzumab emtansine.
Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse
can help you manage your side effects. You can also go to our section on Side Effects for more information.