PDQ (Physician Data Query)

Extract

PDQ (Physician Data Query) is the National Cancer Institute’s source of comprehensive cancer information. It contains peer-reviewed, evidence-based cancer information summaries on treatment, supportive care, screening, prevention, genetics, and complementary and alternative medicine. The summaries are regularly updated by six editorial boards. The following PDQ summaries were recently updated:

Verma S, Miles D, Gianni L, et al.: Trastuzumab emtansine for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. N Engl J Med 367 (19): 1783–91, 2012. PMID: 23020162

Hurvitz SA, Dirix L, Kocsis J, et al.: Phase II Randomized Study of Trastuzumab Emtansine Versus Trastuzumab Plus Docetaxel in Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol 31 (9): 1157–63, 2013. PMID: 23382472

The PDQ Breast Cancer Treatment summary was recently updated to include information about ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), an antibody-drug conjugate that incorporates the HER2-targeted antitumor properties of trastuzumab with the cytotoxic activity of the microtubule-inhibitory agent DM1. T-DM1 allows specific intracellular drug delivery to HER2-overexpressing cells, potentially improving the therapeutic index of trastuzumab and minimizing the exposure of normal tissue to DM1. The FDA recently approved ado-trastuzumab emtansine for use as a single agent in the treatment of patients with HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer who previously received treatment with trastuzumab and a taxane, either separately or in combination.