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
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