trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla)

Trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) is a targeted cancer therapy used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer. It combines the antibody trastuzumab, which specifically attaches to cancer cells with high levels of the HER2 protein, with a chemotherapy drug called emtansine. This design allows the treatment to deliver the chemotherapy directly to the cancer cells, maximizing its effect while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. It is typically used for patients whose cancer has spread or returned after initial treatment, helping to control the disease more precisely and often with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy.