Term: Kadcyla

Pronunciation: (kad-SY-luh)

Description:

A drug used to treat certain patients with HER2-positive breast cancer that has already been treated with trastuzumab and a type of anticancer drug called a taxane. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Kadcyla contains a monoclonal antibody called trastuzumab that binds to a protein called HER2, which is found on some breast cancer cells. It also contains an anticancer drug called DM1, which may help kill cancer cells. Kadcyla is a type of antibody-drug conjugate. Also called ado-trastuzumab emtansine and T-DM1.