Datopotamab deruxtecan

How datopotamab deruxtecan works

Datopotamab deruxtecan is an antibody-drug conjugate. This targeted therapy and others like it combine a chemotherapy with an antibody. The antibody acts like cells in your body that attack diseases. The antibody delivers the chemotherapy directly to the cancer cells.

The antibody in this treatment, datopotamab, targets a protein called Trop-2. The Trop-2 protein is present in normal cells. It signals them to grow and multiply. But many breast cancer cells make more of the protein than normal cells do.

The other part of this treatment is a chemotherapy drug called deruxtecan, or DXd. The datopotamab attaches to the Trop-2 proteins on cancer cells. The datopotamab then delivers the deruxtecan into the cancer cells and destroys them. It may also destroy nearby cancer cells and other cells that may be helping the cancer grow.

In a phase III trial:

• Datopotamab deruxtecan led to people going longer without cancer growing than those treated with chemotherapy. They lived an average of 6.9 months without cancer growth in the trial.
• People given chemotherapy lived 4.9 months without cancer growth.
• Datopotamab deruxtecan lowered the risk of cancer growing or spreading by 37% compared with chemotherapy.
• Survival wasn’t yet shown to be improved, but long-term follow-up is ongoing.

Who gets datopotamab deruxtecan?

Datopotamab deruxtecan is available for certain people with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Your doctor may recommend it if you have cancer that meets all of these requirements:

• The cancer is hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative.
• The cancer is metastatic or locally advanced and can’t be removed by surgery.
• You have been given hormonal therapy and chemotherapy since being diagnosed with advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

How datopotamab deruxtecan is given

The datopotamab deruxtecan schedule is one treatment, given by vein, once every three weeks.

The first infusion lasts 90 minutes. After the infusion, you will stay at your treatment center for 1 hour to see if there is a negative reaction. If there are no reactions, future infusions will take 30 minutes.

You should not wear contacts on treatment days unless instructed by your doctor. You can hold ice chips in your mouth during treatment to help prevent mouth sores, a common side effect.

Ask your doctor for any other directions to be ready for your appointment.

Treatment with datopotamab deruxtecan will continue until the cancer grows or spreads or you are no longer able to tolerate the side effects.

Side effects and things to remember

Datopotamab deruxtecan comes with warnings for certain side effects that can be severe.

• Mouth sores. Inflammation of the mouth or mouth sores are common side effects. They may be painful and can become severe. Let your healthcare team know right away if you have mouth problems such as pain, swelling, redness, ulcers, or sores.
• Eye problems. This treatment has been associated with problems in the eyes, including dryness. It may also cause the clear tissue in front of the eye to become inflamed. Let your healthcare team know if you experience dryness, irritation, swelling, redness, pain, or other changes to your eyes or sight. This can include the feeling that there is something in your eye.
• Lung effects. Inflammation of the lungs, called pneumonitis, or interstitial lung disease caused by treatment can become fatal if left untreated. Tell your healthcare team immediately if you have any problems with your lungs or breathing, including cough, shortness of breath, fever, chest tightness, and wheezing.

Common side effects

Common side effects of treatment with datopotamab deruxtecan include:

• Mouth sores
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Constipation
• Dry eye
• An inflammation of the cornea called keratitis
• Rash
• Decreased appetite
• Cough
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea

Paying for datopotamab deruxtecan

Datopotamab deruxtecan is a Food and Drug Administration-approved medicine. Many health insurance policies cover treatments based on their approved use. However, your insurance plan decides what treatments it will cover. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Your insurer may require that your doctor get an approval from your insurance company before you can have the treatment. This is called prior authorization. It may also be called precertification or preauthorization.
• You may also be responsible for part of the cost of covered treatments.
• You can call your insurance company to learn what your policy covers.
• You can also ask your healthcare team for a referral to a financial counselor or hospital social worker who can help you learn more about your coverage.
• Some programs help pay for out-of-pocket costs. The makers of datopotamab deruxtecan (brand name Datroway) offer a patient savings program for people with private insurance. They also have patient assistance programs for people with no insurance or with government health coverage, such as Medicare. Visit datroway4u.com to learn more about these programs and other groups that may offer financial assistance.

LBBC offers information and other resources to help you understand your options when paying for breast cancer care. Visit Financial matters to learn more.