Description About Lapatinib (Tykerb)

by Danish S. MAGICINE PHARMA | SEARCH LATEST MEDS

This is a targeted antitumor drug used in the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive and/or human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. It is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is used in combination with the cytotoxic Tablet Capecitabine in the first-line treatment of advanced cases. In the US, Lapatinib Tablet was approved for the treatment of patients whose tumors have not responded to other drugs, such as an aromatase inhibitor and Trastuzumab, in 2007.

Process of Lapatinib Action -

Lapatinib (Tykerb) works by targeting specific molecules in the cancer cells to help stop the growth of cancer. It works by inhibiting the activity of two kinases, EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) and HER2. EGFR and HER2 are proteins that play a role in how cancer cells work by helping them to divide and grow. By blocking EGFR and HER2, Lapatinib can help stop the growth of tumor cells in metastatic breast cancer.

Because Lapatinib (Tykerb) works by blocking specific molecules in the cancer cells, it is an example of targeted therapy. Targeted therapies are considered a more precise and effective treatment for cancer because they are designed to work directly against the cancer cells, while other therapies may have more widespread or toxic effects on the body. Additionally, Lapatinib is not known to cause the same side effects that are seen with other cancer treatments, such as nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.

Lapatinib uses

In addition to being used as a first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer, Lapatinib is also used in combination with other drugs to treat early-stage breast cancer. Multiple studies have shown that Lapatinib combined with the chemotherapy drug docetaxel is effective in treating advanced breast cancer. In one particular study, Lapatinib was found to be effective in patients whose tumors were HER2-positive and had either a mutation in the ERBB2 (ERBB2 is an important tumor marker for Lapatinib) gene or a partial deletion in the ERBB2 gene.

Lapatinib can also be used as a preventative therapy for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who are at high risk for recurrence. In this case, the patient receives Lapatinib in combination with Trastuzumab (Herceptin). This combination can be used to reduce the risk of recurrence, even after the tumor has receded.

Due to its effectiveness in treating metastatic breast cancer and its successful use in combination with other treatments, Lapatinib is an important drug in the treatment of breast cancer. It is a targeted therapy that is relatively safe and effective in treating advanced and early-stage breast cancers and can help reduce the risk of recurrence.

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