Herceptin

What Herceptin is used for

Breast cancer Metastatic breast cancer Herceptin is indicated for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: as monotherapy for the treatment of those patients who have received at least two chemotherapy regimens for their metastatic disease. Prior chemotherapy must have included at least an anthracycline and a taxane unless patients are unsuitable for these treatments. Hormone-receptor-positive patients must also have failed hormonal therapy, unless patients are unsuitable for these treatments; in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of those patients who have not received chemotherapy for their metastatic disease and for whom an anthracycline is not suitable; in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of those patients who have not received chemotherapy for their metastatic disease; in combination with an aromatase inhibitor for the treatment of postmenopausal patients with hormone-receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer, not previously treated with trastuzumab. Early breast cancer Herceptin is indicated for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer: following surgery, chemotherapy (neoadjuvant or adjuvant) and radiotherapy (if applicable); following adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, in combination with paclitaxel or docetaxel; in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of docetaxel and carboplatin; in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by adjuvant Herceptin therapy, for locally advanced (including inflammatory) disease or tumours >2 cm in diameter. Herceptin should only be used in patients with metastatic or early breast cancer whose tumours have either HER2 overexpression or HER2 gene amplification as determined by an accurate and validated assay. Metastatic gastric cancer Herceptin in combination with capecitabine or 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction who have not received prior anticancer treatment for their metastatic disease. Herceptin should only be used in patients with metastatic gastric cancer whose tumours have HER2 overexpression as defined by IHC2+ and a confirmatory SISH or FISH result, or by an IHC3+ result. Accurate and validated assay methods should be used.

Approved use, as published by the European Medicines Agency.

Key facts

Brand

Herceptin

Active substance

trastuzumab

Disease area

Stomach Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms

Medicine group

Antineoplastic agents

ATC code

L01FD01

Marketing authorisation holder

Roche Registration GmbH

Authorised in the EU since

2000

Official information

• Herceptin: European public assessment report (EPAR), product information and package leaflet, on the EMA website

In the USA

Same active substance: Ogivri, Herceptin Hylecta, Herceptin, Herzuma, Phesgo, Kanjinti, Ontruzant, Trazimera

In India

• Trastuzumab: 29 brands in India