english.prescrire.org > Spotlight > Archives : 2014 > In the December issue of Prescrire International: Trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla°). An inadequately assessed combination of two cytotoxic drugs

Spotlight: Archives

Every month, the subjects in Prescrire’s Spotlight.

2014 : 1 | 30 | 60

In the December issue of Prescrire International: Trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla°). An inadequately assessed combination of two cytotoxic drugs

FREE DOWNLOAD In the "New Products" section of this month's issue, an abstract summarising Prescire's analysis of this combination, which has received EU marketing authorisation in certain types of breast cancer.
Abstract available for free download.

Summary

  • There is no consensus on second-line treatment for women with metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer overexpressing HER-2 protein in whom treatment with a taxane + trastuzumab has failed. Capecitabine is one option. Adding lapatinib does not prolong survival.
     
  • Trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla°, Roche) has received EU marketing authorisation for use in this setting. 


An abstract summarising Prescrire's analysis is available for free download.

©Prescrire 1 December 2014

"Trastuzumab emtansine. An inadequately assessed combination of two cytotoxic drugs" Prescrire Int 2014; 23 (155): 289. (Pdf, free).
Download the abstract
Pdf, free