Tucatinib

Generic name: Tucatinib
Brand names: Tukysa
Dosage form: oral tablet
Drug class: HER2 inhibitors

Usage of Tucatinib

Tucatinib is a type of targeted anticancer drug, which is used in combination with other medications for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. Tucatinib belongs to a class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Tucatinib targets HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) tyrosine kinase. HER2 receptors are involved in the growth and repair of normal breast cells. But, 10 to 20 percent of breast cancers have a faulty HER2 gene, which makes too many copies of itself. This results in HER2 protein overexpression - too many HER2 receptors on the breast cells - which makes the breast cells grow and divided uncontrollably.

Tucatinib works by blocking the activity of HER2, which helps to slow the growth and spread of cancer cells. It is used in combination with trastuzumab and Capecitabine because the combination helps patients live longer without their cancer progressing and survive for longer overall.

It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2020.

Tucatinib side effects

Tucatinib may cause serious side effects, including:

Diarrhea. Diarrhea is common with tucatinib and can sometimes be severe. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a change in your bowel movements or severe diarrhea. Severe diarrhea can lead to loss of too much body fluids (dehydration), low blood pressure, kidney problems and death. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines to treat your diarrhea during treatment with tucatinib.

Liver Problems. Tucatinib can cause severe liver problems. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your liver function before and every 3 weeks during treatment with tucatinib, or as needed. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any signs and symptoms of liver problems including:

itching

yellowing of your skin or eyes

dark or brown urine (tea-colored)

pain in the upper right side of your stomach-area (abdomen)

feel very tired

decreased appetite

bleeding or bruising more easily than normal

The most common side effects of tucatinib:

diarrhea

rash, redness, pain, swelling or blisters on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet

nausea

tiredness

increased liver function blood tests

vomiting

mouth sores (stomatitis)

decreased appetite

stomach-area (abdomen) pain

headache

low red blood cell counts (anemia)

rash

Your healthcare provider may change your dose of tucatinib, temporarily stop, or permanently stop treatment with tucatinib if you have certain side effects.

Tucatinib may cause fertility problems in males and females, which may affect the ability to have children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.

These are not all of the possible side effects of tucatinib. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Tucatinib

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Tucatinib can harm your unborn baby.

Females who are able to become pregnant:

Your healthcare provider will do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with tucatinib.

You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with tucatinib and for at least 1 week after the last dose of tucatinib. Talk with your healthcare provider about forms of birth control that you can use during this time.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with tucatinib.

Males with female partner who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with tucatinib and for at least 1 week after the last dose of tucatinib.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if tucatinib passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with tucatinib and for at least 1 week after the last dose of tucatinib.

Relate drugs

How to use Tucatinib

The recommended dosage of tucatinib is 300 mg taken orally twice daily with or without food. For patients with severe hepatic impairment, the recommended dosage is 200 mg orally twice daily.

See full prescribing information for additional information about tucatinib dosing.

Warnings

Tucatinib is used with the medicines trastuzumab (Herceptin) and capecitabine (Xeloda). Also read the patient information that may come with these medicines.

What other drugs will affect Tucatinib

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tucatinib may affect the way your other medicines work, and other medicines may affect the way tucatinib works.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of all the medicines you take and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist every time you get a new medicine.

Disclaimer

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