Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is a type of drug that combines two different treatments for breast cancer. T-DM1 is a combination of the chemotherapy drug called emtansine and the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab. The drug works by attaching itself to a protein called HER2, which is found on the surface of breast cancer cells. T-DM1 delivers the chemotherapy drug directly to the cancer cells, allowing for more targeted therapy and less damage to healthy cells.
Clinical trials have shown that T-DM1 can be highly effective in treating HER2-positive breast cancer, which accounts for about 20% of all breast cancer cases. HER2-positive tumors tend to be more aggressive and faster-growing than other types of breast cancer. In clinical trials, patients who were treated with T-DM1 had a longer progression-free survival time than those who were treated with other drugs. These results have led to T-DM1 being approved for use in the United States and Europe.
Another potential use for T-DM1 is in the treatment of other types of cancer that have high levels of HER2 protein, such as gastric cancer and certain types of lung cancer. Clinical trials are currently underway to explore these applications, and early results are promising. If these trials are successful, T-DM1 could become an important treatment option for a variety of different cancers.
The development of T-DM1 represents a major breakthrough in cancer treatment, and its success has implications beyond breast cancer therapy. T-DM1 is a prime example of the type of innovative drug development that is happening in the pharmaceutical industry. The development of new drugs like T-DM1 requires significant investment in research and development, and it is essential that the pharmaceutical industry continues to invest in these types of projects in order to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
References
Current and Future Management of HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
Olga Martínez-Sáez and Aleix Prat
JCO Oncology Practice 2021 17:10, 594-604