Resumen de Trastuzumab, un anticuerpo monoclonal para el cáncer de mama metastásico
G. Lopez Arzoz, G. Liceaga Cundin, B. Odriozola Cincunegui, Inmaculada Fernández González, M. J. Barcia Romero
The therapy of monoclonal antibodies is set forth as a novel and attractive possibility for the treatment of breast cancer. Trastuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody, obtained by genetic engineering techniques, wich constitutes a new option in the treatment of those patients with metastatic breast cancer whose tumors overexpose the surface protein HER2; this overexposure is observed in 25-30% of cases. In monotherapy it may be a useful alterntive in pre-treated patients which cannot tolerate posterior regimes of chemotherpy. Associated to paclitaxel, it is administered in those patients that have not received previous chemotherapy for the metastatic disease. Based upon the available data and the elevated cost of the treatment, it wil be necessary to make a correct selection of those patients to be treated, with the purpose of achieving the most cost-efficient use possible
