Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is a type of targeted therapy drug called an antibody–drug conjugate. It is a monoclonal antibody chemically linked to a chemotherapy drug. The antibody portion binds to HER2, a protein found in high levels on some cancer cells and causes them to grow, and delivers a drug called emtansine (or DM-1), a microtubule inhibitor, to those cells, killing them. Ado-trastuzumab emtansine may also stimulate the immune system to kill cancer cells.
FDA label information for this drug is available at DailyMed.
Use in Cancer
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is approved to treat:
- Breast cancer that is HER2 positive and has already been treated with a taxane and trastuzumab. It is used:
- as adjuvant therapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer. It is used in these patients when invasive breast cancer is found in the tissue removed during surgery.
- in patients with metastatic breast cancer. It is also used in these patients if the cancer recurs (comes back) after adjuvant therapy.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.
More About Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine
Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.
MedlinePlus Information on Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:
- warnings about this drug,
- what this drug is used for and how it is used,
- what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
- what you should know about this drug before using it,
- other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
- possible side effects.
Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.
Research Results and Related Resources
Targeted Therapy to Treat Cancer
Clinical Trials Accepting Patients
Find Clinical Trials for Ado-trastuzumab Emtansine - Check for trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials now accepting patients.