Lapatinib ditosylate

The extracellular domain of the HER-2 neu molecule is the therapeutic target for the specific IgGlx humanized chimeric monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab (Herceptin ), approved 1998 and found to be effective in malignancies with HER-2 overexpression. An important aspect of this specific immunotherapy includes the efficiency against non-proliferating disseminated tumor cells (dormant cells), which are usually in the GO phase of the cell cycle, where conventional chemotherapy is less effective. The HER-2 neu molecule is also the target for specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as Tykerb (lapatinib ditosylate), which block the kinase-substrate interaction and the extracellular tyrosine kinase receptors on tumor cells. 

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