How Does Enhertu Work for Breast Cancer?

Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) used to treat breast cancer. ADCs are a type of targeted therapy that combines an antibody with a cytotoxic drug. The antibody in Enhertu binds to the HER2 receptor, which is found on the surface of breast cancer cells. Once bound, the ADC is internalized by the cell, where the cytotoxic drug is released and kills the cancer cell.

Enhertu is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who have received prior treatment with other targeted therapies. It is also approved to treat patients with HER2-low breast cancer who have received prior chemotherapy.

Enhertu is administered intravenously (IV) once every 3 weeks. The recommended dosage is 5.4 mg/kg.

The most common side effects of Enhertu include:

* Nausea

* Vomiting

* Fatigue

* Diarrhea

* Hair loss

* Neutropenia

* Anemia

* Thrombocytopenia

* Rash

* Injection site reactions

Enhertu can also cause serious side effects, including:

* Interstitial lung disease

* Cardiomyopathy

* Hepatotoxicity

* Renal failure

* Infusion reactions

* Tumor lysis syndrome

Enhertu is contraindicated in patients with a known allergy to trastuzumab or deruxtecan. It is also contraindicated in patients with a history of interstitial lung disease or cardiomyopathy.

Enhertu is a promising new treatment option for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. It is well-tolerated and has shown significant efficacy in clinical trials.