(SAK i TOOZ ue mab GOE vi TEE kan)
Trade Name(s): Trodelvy®
Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy is the generic name for the trade name drug Trodelvy®. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name or generic name when referring to the drug.
Drug Type: Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy is a Trop-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate combined with a topoisomerase I inhibitor (for more detail, see “How Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy Works” below).
What Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy Is Used For
- Treatment of adults with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) who have received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease
Note: If a drug has been approved for one use, physicians may elect to use this same drug for other problems if they believe it may be helpful.
How Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy Is Given
- Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy is given as an IV infusion once weekly on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day treatment cycle.
- The amount of sacituzumab govitecan-hziy you will receive depends on your weight.
Side Effects
Important things to remember about the side effects of sacituzumab govitecan-hziy:
- Most people will not experience all of the satizumumab govitecan-hziy side effects listed.
- Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset, duration, and severity.
- Most sacituzumab govitecan-hziy side effects will improve after therapy is complete.
- There are many options to minimize or prevent the side effects of sacituzumab govitecan-hziy.
The following side effects are common (occurring in greater than 30%) for patients taking sacituzumab govitecan-hziy:
These are less common side effects (occurring in 10-29%) for patients receiving sacituzumab govitecan-hziy:
Not all side effects are listed above. Side effects that are rare -- occurring in less than about 10 percent of patients -- are not listed here. But you should always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.
When to Contact Your Doctor or Health Care Provider
Contact your health care provider immediately, day or night, if you should experience any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4º F (38º C) or higher, possible signs of infection including chills, cough, shortness of breath, burning or pain during urination
- Signs of allergic reactions including swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, hives, skin rash or flushing of your skin, difficulty breathing or wheezing, lightheadedness, dizziness, feeling faint or passing out
- Black or tarry stools, or blood in your stools
- Symptoms of losing too much body fluid (dehydration) and body salts, such as dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness
- If you are unable to take any fluid by mouth due to nausea or vomiting
- If you are unable to get your diarrhea under control after 24 hours
The following symptoms require medical attention, but are not an emergency. Contact your health care provider within 24 hours of noticing any of the following:
- Nausea (interferes with ability to eat and unrelieved with prescribed medication)
- Vomiting (vomiting more than 4-5 times in a 24 hour period)
- Diarrhea (4-6 episodes in a 24-hour period)
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Blood in the urine
- Pain or burning with urination
- Extreme fatigue (unable to carry on self-care activities)
- Mouth sores (painful redness, swelling or ulcers)
Always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.
Precautions
- Before starting sacituzumab govitecan-hziy treatment, make sure you tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal remedies, etc.). Some drugs may affect the way sacituzumab govitecan-hziy works.
- Before you receive sacituzumab govitecan-hziy, tell your health care provider if you have been told you carry a gene for uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase A1 (UGT1A1*28). People who carry this gene are at an increased risk of side effects with sacituzumab govitecan-hziy, especially low white blood cell counts.
- Before starting sacituzumab govitecan-hziy, notify your health care provider of any medical conditions, including liver problems.
- Do not receive any kind of immunization or vaccination without your doctor’s approval while taking sacituzumab govitecan-hziy.
- Inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or may be pregnant prior to starting this treatment. This drug must not be given to a pregnant woman or a woman who intends to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking sacituzumab govitecan-hziy, stop taking the medication immediately and call your doctor for further instructions.
- For both men and women: Use contraceptives, and do not conceive a child (get pregnant) while taking sacituzumab govitecan-hziy. Barrier methods of contraception, such as condoms, are recommended for up to 3 months after last dose of sacituzumab govitecan-hziy.
- Do not breast feed while taking sacituzumab govitecan-hziy and for 1 month after your last dose.
Self-Care Tips
- Drink at least two to three quarts of fluid every 24 hours, unless you are instructed otherwise.
- You may be at risk of infection so try to avoid crowds or people with colds, and report fever or any other signs of infection immediately to your health care provider.
- Wash your hands often.
- To help treat/prevent mouth sores, use a soft toothbrush, and rinse three times a day with 1 teaspoon of baking soda mixed with 8 ounces of water.
- Use an electric razor and a soft toothbrush to minimize bleeding.
- Avoid contact sports or activities that could cause injury.
- To reduce nausea, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed by your doctor, and eat small, frequent meals.
- Follow regimen of anti-diarrhea medication as prescribed by your health care professional.
- Eat foods that may help reduce diarrhea (see managing side effects - diarrhea).
- Avoid sun exposure. Wear SPF 30 (or higher) sunblock and protective clothing.
- In general, drinking alcoholic beverages should be kept to a minimum or avoided completely. You should discuss this with your doctor.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Maintain good nutrition.
- Remain active as you are able. Gentle exercise is encouraged such as a daily walk.
- If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems.
Monitoring and Testing While Taking Sacituzumab Govitecan-hziy
You will be checked regularly by your doctor while you are taking sacituzumab govitecan-hziy to monitor side effects and check your response to therapy. Periodic blood work, such as your complete blood count (CBC) will be ordered and monitored by your doctor.
How Sacituzumab Govitecan-hziy Works
Cancer is a disease caused by changes, also known as mutations, in DNA that change the way cells grow and divide. Cancer cells can be destroyed using many different types of medications that work in very different ways. Examples of medications that destroy cancer cells include cytotoxic chemotherapy, small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates.
An antibody-drug conjugate is a substance made up of a monoclonal antibody that is chemically linked to a chemotherapy agent. These work together to destroy cancer cells. The monoclonal antibody drug targets a specific protein on a cancer cell. Then, the linked chemotherapy drug can enter and kill these cells with less harm to other cells. Each type of antibody-drug conjugate works a little bit differently but all interfere with the ability of the cancer cell to grow, divide, repair and/or communicate with other cells.
Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy is composed of a Trop-2-directed humanized antibody and SN-38, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, attached by a linker. Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy binds to Trop-2-expressing cancer cells and is internalized into the cell. SN-38 is released into the cancer cell by breaking the linker. SN-38 interacts with topoisomerase I, resulting in DNA damage and cell death.
Note: We strongly encourage you to talk with your health care professional about your specific medical condition and treatments. The information contained in this website is meant to be helpful and educational, but is not a substitute for medical advice.