Erthropoietin and herceptin
Posted 11/17/2010
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This is another blog that will either be of intense interest or zero interest. If you are taking herceptin and sometimes have needed or considered taking red-blood-cell boosting drugs to treat low red blood counts, this is important information. As usual, here is a quote and then a link to read more:
Erythropoietin counteracts breast cancer treatment with
herceptin
Researchers find erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs cut response to HER2 targeted therapy
HOUSTON - Red-blood-cell-boosting drugs used to treat anemia
may undermine breast cancer treatment with Herceptin, a
targeted therapy that blocks the cancer-promoting HER2
protein, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center report in the Nov. 16 edition of Cancer Cell.
"Our research indicates when the two drugs were used at the
same time, Herceptin was less effective," said study senior
author Zhen Fan, M.D., associate professor in MD Anderson's
Department of Experimental Therapeutics.
Natural erythropoietin (EPO) controls the body's red blood cell
production. Manufactured versions called erythropoietin-
stimulating agents or recombinant erythropoietin treat anemia
caused by kidney failure and cancer treatment.
"Recombinant erythropoietin is a great drug, and it's saved
many lives," Fan said. "Some studies, however, have shown that
the drug has effects on cancer cells. We wanted to see if
recombinant erythropoietin thwarts Herceptin, based on our
understanding of how the two drugs work.
http://tinyurl.com/27xush9
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