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Reversible and Irreversible Cardiac Dysfunction Associated with Trastuzumab in Breast Cancer

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Abstract

One of the newest agents used in the treatment of breast cancer is trastuzumab (Herceptin®), a new recombinant DNA-derived humanized monoclonal antibody against the proto-oncogene, HER-2/neu gene product. However, despite its proven clinical efficacy, serious adverse effects leading to trastuzumab-induced cardiomyopathy have been described in up to 27% of patients receiving combination therapy with anthracyclines [1]. There has been little published on the clinical syndrome of trastuzumab-induced cardiomyopathy. We describe three cases, of both reversible and irreversible cardiomyopathy, associated with the use of this novel and effective agent in HER-2 overexpressing breast cancer.

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Tham, YL., Verani, M.S. & Chang, J. Reversible and Irreversible Cardiac Dysfunction Associated with Trastuzumab in Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 74, 131–134 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016140729725

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016140729725

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