Tykerb

Brand name: Tykerb

Chemical name: Lapatinib

Class: HER2 (human epidermal receptor 2) inhibitor targeted therapy. Herceptin is another HER2 inhibitor.

How it works: HER2 inhibitors work against HER2-positive breast cancers by blocking the ability of the cancer cells to receive chemical signals that tell the cells to grow.

Uses: Tykerb typically is used: 

• in combination with Xeloda to treat metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer that has stopped responding to anthracyclines, taxanes, and Herceptin
• in combination with Femara to treat hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-positive, advanced-stage breast cancer in post-menopausal women

How it's given: Tykerb is taken orally as a pill.

Additional information: While Herceptin blocks the HER2 protein on the surface of cancer cells, Tykerb blocks the protein inside the cell. It's because of this different mechanism that Tykerb may be effective against HER-positive cancers that have stopped responding to Herceptin.

Side effects:

• diarrhea
• rash
• neuropathy (tingling in the hands and feet)
• nausea
• vomiting
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• mouth or throat sores
• insomnia
• liver problems

Read more about Tykerb.

Recent Research News on Tykerb

FDA Approves Tykerb-Femara Combo to Treat Advanced-Stage Disease

Herceptin Plus Tykerb Improves Survival for Women with Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Tykerb May Help Treat HER2-Positive Inflammatory Breast Cancer