Effects of trastuzumab and trastuzumab-emtansine on QTc intervals

    Authors

    Keywords

    trastuzumab, trastuzumab-emntansine, QTc interval, HER2+ breast cancer

    DOI

    https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2018.466

    Full Text

    Introduction : Trastuzumab and trastuzumab-emtansine are antibody drugs and antibody-conjugate for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)- positive breast cancer. Their possible side effects can be QT prolongation and reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), as previously documented. ( 1 - 3 ) Methods and Results : All patients were previously treated with standard regimen: paclitaxel and cisplatinum. After that they received specific antibody drugs. The aim of this study was to test their effect on QTc interval in our patients. A total of 26 patients with preserved LVEF were treated with trastuzumab and before every application, ECG was obtained and analyzed. Later on, 24 patients (aged 57.33 years; 46-69 years) continued the treatment with trastuzumab-emtansine because of metastatic disease. Due to reduction of LVEF two patients could not continue with therapy. The last ECG was obtained 6 months after the last drug application. Statistical analysis was performed using standard t-test. Significant QTc prolongation was noticed after the third application of both drugs, continued during the fourth, fifth and sixth application of both drugs and normalization was noticed after six months without therapy. Results are shown in tables 1 , 2 and 3 . Conclusion : Treatment with trastuzumab and also with trastuzumab-emtansine significantly prolonged QTc interval in patients with breast cancer, but the change was reversible after the cessation of treatment.

    Cardiologia Croatica
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    Effects of trastuzumab and trastuzumab-emtansine on QTc intervals

    Extended Abstract
    Issue11-12
    Published
    Pages466-467
    PDF via DOIhttps://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2018.466
    trastuzumab
    trastuzumab-emntansine
    QTc interval
    HER2+ breast cancer

    Authors

    Martina Lovrić Benčić*ORCIDUniversity Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
    Lada BradićORCIDUniversity Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
    Rea LevickiORCIDUniversity Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
    Juraj JugORCIDUniversity Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
    Marta BegovacUniversity Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
    Marina MihajlovićORCIDUniversity Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Full Text

    Introduction : Trastuzumab and trastuzumab-emtansine are antibody drugs and antibody-conjugate for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)- positive breast cancer. Their possible side effects can be QT prolongation and reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), as previously documented. ( 1 - 3 ) Methods and Results : All patients were previously treated with standard regimen: paclitaxel and cisplatinum. After that they received specific antibody drugs. The aim of this study was to test their effect on QTc interval in our patients. A total of 26 patients with preserved LVEF were treated with trastuzumab and before every application, ECG was obtained and analyzed. Later on, 24 patients (aged 57.33 years; 46-69 years) continued the treatment with trastuzumab-emtansine because of metastatic disease. Due to reduction of LVEF two patients could not continue with therapy. The last ECG was obtained 6 months after the last drug application. Statistical analysis was performed using standard t-test. Significant QTc prolongation was noticed after the third application of both drugs, continued during the fourth, fifth and sixth application of both drugs and normalization was noticed after six months without therapy. Results are shown in tables 1 , 2 and 3 . Conclusion : Treatment with trastuzumab and also with trastuzumab-emtansine significantly prolonged QTc interval in patients with breast cancer, but the change was reversible after the cessation of treatment.