Tumor Expression Testing HER2 before the treatment with Herceptin ® is mandatory.
Treatment with Herceptin® should only be performed under the supervision of a physician with experience in the use of cytotoxic chemotherapy, and the drug should be administered by medical personnel.
Herceptin® in the dosage form "lyophilizate for the preparation of a solution for infusions" is administered only by intravenous drip! Enter the drug intravenously struyno or bolusno not! Attention!
Herceptin® is not compatible with 5% dextrose solution because of the possibility of protein aggregation.
Herceptin should not be mixed or diluted with other medications.
Solution Herceptin ® is compatible with infusion bags made of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polypropylene.
Preparation of the solution
Preparation of the drug for administration should be carried out under aseptic conditions. Instructions for preparing a solution
The contents of the 150 mg Herceptin® vial are dissolved in 7.2 ml sterile water for injection.
During the dissolution should be carefully treated with the drug. When dissolving, excessive foaming should be avoided, the latter may make it difficult to obtain the desired dose of the drug from the vial.
- With a sterile syringe, slowly inject 7.2 ml of sterile water for injection into a bottle of 150 mg of Herceptin ®, directing the liquid stream directly to the lyophilizate.
- For dissolution, gently shake the bottle with rotational movements. Do not shake!
When the preparation is dissolved, a small amount of foam is often formed. To avoid this, allow the solution to stand for about 5 minutes. The prepared solution should be clear and colorless or have a pale yellow color.
Storage conditions of the prepared solution A bottle with 150 mg of the drug is used only once.
Herceptin® solution is physically and chemically stable over the course of 24 hours at a temperature of 2-8 ° C after dissolving with sterile water for injections.Do not freeze!
Preparation of a solution for infusion should be carried out immediately after dissolving the lyophilizate. In exceptional cases, the solution after dissolution of the lyophilisate can be stored for no more than 24 hours at a temperature of 2-8 ° C if the solution of the lyophilizate passes in controlled and validated aseptic conditions. At the same time for the storage conditions (storage rules and duration), the specialist who dissolves lyophilizate answers.
Instructions for preparing a solution for infusion Determine the volume of the solution:
- required for administration of a loading dose of trastuzumab of 4 mg / kg body weight or a maintenance dose of 2 mg / kg is determined by the following formula:
body mass (kg) x dose (4 mg / kg loading or 2 mg / kg maintenance)
Scope (ml) = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21 (mg / ml, concentration of the prepared solution)
- necessary for the administration of a loading dose of trastuzumab equal to 8 mg / kg of body weight or a maintenance dose of 6 mg / kg every 3 weeks is determined by the following formula:
body mass (kg) x dose (8 mg / kg loading or 6 mg / kg maintenance)
Scope (ml) = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21 (mg / ml, concentration of the prepared solution)
From the vial with dissolved lyophilizate should be dialed the appropriate volume and enter it into the infusion bag with 250 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Then the infusion bag should be turned gently to mix the solution, avoiding foaming. Before administration, the solution should be checked (visually) for the absence of mechanical impurities and discoloration. Solution for infusion is administered immediately after its preparation.
In exceptional cases, the prepared infusion solution can be stored for no more than 24 hours at a temperature of 2-8 ° C, if dissolution of the lyophilizate and the preparation of the infusion solution takes place under controlled and validated aseptic conditions. At the same time for the storage conditions (storage rules and duration) is the specialist who prepared the solution.
Instructions for disposal of unused product or expired
The presence of the drug in the environment should be minimized. Do not dispose of the product with sewage or with household waste. If possible, it is necessary to use special systems for the disposal of medicinal products.
Standard dosing regimen
During each administration of trastuzumab, the patient should be carefully monitored for chills, fever, and other infusion reactions (within 6 hours after the start of the first infusion and within 2 hours after the start of subsequent infusions). An emergency kit should be available, and an infusion should be performed by a medical specialist experienced in the treatment of anaphylaxis.
In the case of the appearance of infusion reactions, the infusion is interrupted. After the disappearance of symptoms of infusion reactions of mild and moderate severity according to NCI-CTC (the general criteria for the toxicity of the National Cancer Institute in the United States) may be the resumption of infusion. In the case of development of severe and life-threatening infusion reactions consideration should be given to discontinuing further therapy with Herceptin®.
Metastatic breast cancer
Weekly introduction
Loading dose: 4 mg / kg body weight as a 90-minute intravenous drip infusion.
Maintenance dose: 2 mg / kg body weight once a week. The maintenance dose is given 1 week after the loading. If the previous loading dose was well tolerated, the drug can be administered as a 30-minute drop infusion.
Alternative introduction - in 3 weeks
Loading dose: 8 mg / kg body weight as a 90-minute intravenous drip infusion.
Maintenance dose: 6 mg / kg body weight every 3 weeks. The maintenance dose is given 3 weeks after loading. If the previous loading dose was well tolerated, the drug can be administered as a 30-minute drop infusion.
Use in combination with paclitaxel or docetaxel
Paclitaxel or docetaxel were administered the day after the administration of Herceptin® (for recommendations on dosing, see the appropriate instructions for medical use) or immediately after the subsequent administration of Herceptin® if the Herceptin® was well tolerated during the previous administration. Use in combination with an aromatase inhibitor
Herceptin® and anastrozole were introduced on day 1. Restrictions on the time of administration of Herceptin® and anastrozole was not (recommendations for dosing, see the instructions for the medical use of anastrozole or other aromatase inhibitors).
Early stages of breast cancer
Weekly introduction
With a weekly introduction of Herceptin® is introduced in loading dose 4 mg / kg body weight, then in supporting 2 mg / kg body weight once a week. The maintenance dose is given 1 week after the loading. The loading dose is administered as a 90-minute intravenous drip infusion. If the previous loading dose was well tolerated, the drug can be administered as a 30-minute drop infusion.
Introduction in 3 weeks
When administered after 3 weeks loading dose: 8 mg / kg body weight (as a 90-minute intravenous drip infusion).
Maintenance dose: 6 mg / kg body weight every 3 weeks. The maintenance dose is given 3 weeks after loading. If the previous loading dose was well tolerated, the drug can be administered as a 30-minute drop infusion.
The use of Herceptin® in the early stages of breast cancer has been studied in combination with chemotherapy according to the schemes described below.
Use in combination with paclitaxel or docetaxel after chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide
Paclitaxel:
80 mg / m as a continuous intravenous (iv) infusion, weekly, for 12 weeks or
175 mg / m as a continuous IV infusion, every 3 weeks for 4 cycles (on day 1
each cycle);
Docetaxel:
100 mg / m as an IV infusion for 1 hour, every 3 weeks, for 4 cycles (starting on day 2 in cycle 5, then on day 1 in each subsequent cycle);
Herceptin®:
beginning with the first dose of paclitaxel or docetaxel, Herceptin® was administered according to a weekly schedule during chemotherapy (loading dose of 4 mg / kg, then at a maintenance dose of 2 mg / kg every week).
In the future, monotherapy with Herceptin® continued according to the weekly schedule after application in combination with paclitaxel or as administered 3 weeks after use in combination with docetaxel. The total duration of therapy with Herceptin® from the first administration was 1 year, regardless of the number of doses received or missed. If paclitaxel or docetaxel and the drug Herceptin® should have been administered on the same day, then paclitaxel or docetaxel was introduced first.
The use in combination with docetaxel and carboplatinum
Docetaxel / Carboplatin (every 3 weeks for 6 cycles, starting from day 2 of the first cycle, then on day 1 in each subsequent cycle):
docetaxel in a dose of 75 mg / m2 in the form of intravenous infusion for 1 h, followed by carboplatin in a dose to achieve the target AUC - 6 mg / ml / min, as an IV infusion, for 30-60 minutes;
Herceptin®:
Herceptin®, together with chemotherapy, was administered according to a weekly schedule (loading dose of 4 mg / kg, then in a maintenance dose of 2 mg / kg every week). After chemotherapy, Herceptin® monotherapy continued according to the administration 3 weeks later. The total duration of therapy with Herceptin® from the first administration was 1 year, regardless of the number of doses received or missed. If docetaxel, carboplatin and Herceptin ® preparation should have been introduced into one
day, it was first introduced docetaxel, followed by carboplatin, then Herceptin®.
Neoadjuvant-adjuvant therapy
Herceptin® was administered according to the regimen every 3 weeks in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (10 cycles):
doxorubicin 60 mg / m2 and paclitaxel 150 mg / m2, every 3 weeks, for 3 cycles;
Further paclitaxel 150 mg / m2, every 3 weeks, for 4 cycles;
Further cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil on days 1 and 8, every 4 weeks, for 3 cycles.
After the operative intervention, adjuvant monotherapy with the drug
Herceptin® continued according to the regime every 3 weeks. The total duration of therapy with Herceptin ® was 1 year.
Common stomach cancer
Introduction in 3 weeks
Loading dose: 8 mg / kg body weight as a 90-minute intravenous drip infusion.
Maintenance dose: 6 mg / kg body weight every 3 weeks. The maintenance dose is given 3 weeks after loading. If the previous loading dose was well tolerated, the drug can be administered as a 30-minute drop infusion.
Metastatic and early stages of breast cancer and common stomach cancer
Duration of therapy
Treatment with Herceptin® in patients with metastatic breast cancer or advanced gastric cancer is carried out before the disease progresses. Patients with early stages of breast cancer should receive therapy with Herceptin® for 1 year or until the recurrence of the disease (depending on what happens more quickly). Treatment with Herceptin® in patients with early stages of breast cancer over one year is not recommended.
Skipping in the planned introduction
If the admission in the planned administration of trastuzumab is 7 days or less, the drug should be administered as soon as possible in the usual maintenance dose (weekly schedule:
- mg / kg of body weight; mode every 3 weeks: 6 mg / kg body weight), without waiting for the next scheduled administration. Next, administer the drug in a maintenance dose (weekly regimen: 2 mg / kg body weight, every 3 weeks: 6 mg / kg body weight) according to the schedule.
If the break in the introduction of the drug is more than 7 days, you must re-enter the loading dose of trastuzumab (weekly regimen: 4 mg / kg body weight, regimen every
- weeks: 8 mg / kg body weight), as a 90-minute intravenous drip infusion. Then continue the administration of the drug in a maintenance dose (weekly regimen: 2 mg / kg body weight, every 3 weeks: 6 mg / kg body weight).
Correction of dose
In the period of origin reversible myelosuppression, a course of therapy with Herceptin® can be continued after a reduction in the dose of chemotherapy or its temporary withdrawal (according to the relevant recommendations in the instructions for the use of paclitaxel, docetaxel or an aromatase inhibitor), subject to careful monitoring of the complications caused by neutropenia.
When decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by> 10 units from the original AND below the value of 50% treatment should be suspended. A reassessment of LVEF should be performed after approximately 3 weeks. If there is no improvement in LVEF or its further decrease, or if symptoms of chronic heart failure (CHF) appear, it is necessary to consider stopping Herceptin treatment unless the benefit for a particular patient exceeds the risks. All these patients should be referred to a cardiologist for a survey and be monitored.
Special instructions for dosing
Elderly patients
The dose reduction of Herceptin® in elderly patients is not required (see the section "Pharmacological properties", subsection "Pharmacokinetics in special patient groups").