These studies compared chemotherapy alone to chemotherapy plus trastuzumab for breast cancers that were HER2-positive. The chemotherapy regimen included
doxorubicin (
Adriamycin®, Rubex
®),
cyclophosphamide (
Cytoxan®), and
paclitaxel (Onxol
®,
Taxol®). After 3.5 years, 93 percent of people who had taken chemotherapy plus trastuzumab had survived cancer-free, compared to 86 percent of those who took chemotherapy alone.
Another study looked at using trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancers (breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body) that were HER2-positive. When trastuzumab and chemotherapy were combined in these cases, the tumors shrunk more than when chemotherapy was used alone. Also, those taking trastuzumab with chemotherapy lived longer and had a delay in the worsening of their cancer, compared to those who took chemotherapy alone.
When and How to Take Trastuzumab
Some general considerations for when and how to take this medication include the following:
- Trastuzumab is given intravenously (by IV) every seven days or every three weeks, depending on the dosing regimen.
- Your first infusion will last 90 minutes, and subsequent infusions may be shorter, depending on the dosing regimen.
- Most people receive their infusion at their healthcare provider's office, a hospital, or at an "infusion center."
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Trastuzumab will not work as well if you stop taking it before your healthcare provider recommends.
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