Pertuzumab Drug For Breast Cancer – Uses, Side Effects And Precautions

Pertuzumab (Trade name: Perjeta)

This is an anti-HER2 antibody (Monoclonal Antibody), approved for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer, used in combination with Trastuzumab and taxanes in the chemotherapy for breast cancer

IV drip

Uses or Indications

Pertuzumab is used in the treatment of:

  • Metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer.
  • Early HER2 positive breast cancer (as adjuvant or neoadjuvant regime)

Side effects of Pertuzumab

The most commonly known side effects of Pertuzumab include:

  • Infusion related symptoms like fever, chills, flushing, fatigue, urticaria, headache, etc
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Mucositis, stomatitis
  • Loss of appetite
  • Decreased left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)
  • Myelosuppression
  • Alopecia

Availability, administration and dosage of Pertuzumab
Pertuzumab is available as 420 mg/14 ml vials. It is administered intravenously, with the most common regimen as an initial dose of 840 mg given over 60 minutes, followed by a maintenance dose of 420 mg given over 30-60 minutes, every 3 weeks.

Precautions:

  • Monitor for infusion related symptoms during treatment.
  • Taxanes should be given after Pertuzumab
  • Anthracyclines can increase the cardiotoxicity of Pertuzumab
  • Not advised for pregnant women
  • Breastfeeding should be avoided while on a Pertuzumab schedule

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