Description
What is Herduo® Lapatinib Tablet?
Lapatinib (INN), used in the form of lapatinib ditosylate (USAN) (trade names Tykerb and Tyverb marketed by Novartis) is an orally active drug for breast cancer and other solid tumors. It is a dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor that interrupts the HER2/neu and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways. It is used in combination therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer. It is used for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose tumors overexpress HER2 (ErbB2).
Lapatinib inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity associated with two oncogenes, EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and HER2/neu (human EGFR type 2). Overexpression of HER2/neu can be responsible for certain types of high-risk breast cancers in women.
Like sorafenib, Lapatinib is a protein kinase inhibitor shown to decrease tumor-causing breast cancer stem cells. Lapatinib inhibits receptor signal processes by binding to the ATP-binding pocket of the EGFR/HER2 protein kinase domain, preventing self-phosphorylation and subsequent activation of the signal mechanism (see Receptor tyrosine kinase#Signal transduction).
Like many small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, lapatinib is regarded as well tolerated. The most common side effects reported are diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and rashes. Of note, the lapatinib-related rash is associated with improved outcomes. In clinical studies, elevated liver enzymes have been reported. QT prolongation has been observed with the use of lapatinib ditosylate but there are no reports of torsades de pointes. Caution is advised in patients with hypokalaemia, hypomagnesemia, congenital long QT syndrome, or with coadministration of medicines known to cause QT prolongation. In combination with capecitabine, the reversible decreased left ventricular function is common (2%).
Herduo® Lapatinib Tablet is used in the treatment of breast cancer. It works by stopping or slowing down the growth of cancer cells. It is either used alone or in combination with some other medicine to cure advanced-stage breast cancer.
Herduo Tablet should be taken on an empty stomach or an hour before or 2 hours after a meal. The dose and duration vary according to the severity of your condition and your response to treatment. Take it exactly as prescribed to avoid serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
The most common side effects of this medicine include nausea, headache, back pain, and breathing difficulty. It may cause severe diarrhea, drink plenty of fluids or consult with your doctor if it bothers you. You may be asked for regular monitoring of blood pressure while taking this medicine. Inform your doctor if you notice a severe headache, confusion, problems with your eyesight, nausea, or vomiting. Your doctor may check your liver function before, during, and after treatment with this medicine.
Before taking Herduo Tablet, let your doctor know if you have liver or kidney problems. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are taking. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.
In Breast Cancer. Herduo Tablet helps to treat breast cancer and it may be used alone or in combination with other medicines or treatment modalities like chemotherapy. It relieves the symptoms of breast cancer such as breast lumps, bloody discharge from nipples or changes in the shape or texture of the breast. Herduo Tablet kills or stops the growth of cancer cells and also prevents the multiplication of cancer cells. Discuss with your doctor if any of the side effects bother you.
Herduo Tablet is an anti-cancer medication. It works against the HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor protein) receptors and EGFRs (epidermal growth factor receptor) which are responsible for the over-proliferation of cells. This is how it inhibits the growth of cancerous cells causing downstream signaling pathways.
