Is Nerlynx (neratinib) a chemo drug?
No. Nerlynx (neratinib) is not a chemo drug it is a type of targeted treatment that works by irreversibly binding to and inhibiting specific receptors on the surface of cancer cells called HER2, HER4, and EGFR receptors, which receive signals that tell cancer to grow and spread.
Unlike chemotherapy which tends to kill all rapidly dividing cells, Nerlynx only targets those cells with those specific receptors, which are found in abnormally large quantities on Her2 positive breast cancer cells. Nerlynx binds to these receptors which inhibits their activity, their ability to direct the activity of other cells, and tumor growth. Neratinib belongs to a category of medications called tyrosine kinase inhibitors and may also be called an irreversible pan-HER inhibitor.
Even though Nerlynx is a targeted treatment, it is different to other targeted treatments such as Herceptin (generic name: trastuzumab), Kadcyla (generic name: ado-trastuzumab emtansine), or Perjeta (generic name: pertuzumab) which are immune targeted treatments. Immune targeted treatments work like antibodies made by our immune systems. Nerlynx is not an antibody.
Nerlynx may be used for the treatment of early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer after treatment with trastuzumab has already been given. It may also be used in combination with the chemotherapy medicine capecitabine (Xeloda) for adults with advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have already received two or more prior anti-HER2 based regimens.
References
- Nerlynx (neratinib) 04/2020 Puma Biotechnology, Inc. https://www.drugs.com/pro/nerlynx.html
- Nerlunx (neratinib) Nerlynx.com https://nerlynx.com
- Nerlynx (neratinib) Breastcancer.org https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/targeted_therapies/nerlynx#:~:text=Nerlynx%20is%20an%20irreversible%20pan,ability%20to%20receive%20growth%20signals
- Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (HER1) Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor ZD1839 (Iressa) Inhibits HER2/neu (erbB2)-overexpressing Breast Cancer Cells in Vitro and in Vivo. Cancer Research Dec 2001. https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/61/24/8887#:~:text=The%20EGFR5%20(HER1%2C%20erbB1,family%20of%20transmembrane%20tyrosine%20kinases.&text=For%20HER2%2C%20the%20most%20common,%2Fneu%20locus%20(14)%20
Read next
Related medical questions
- How long do you take Nerlynx for?
- Does Nerlynx cause hair loss?
- How does Nerlynx (neratinib) work?
- How do you take Nerlynx?
- What is the strongest chemotherapy drug for breast cancer?
- Why are my nipples sore? 7 possible causes
- How long do letrozole side effects last?
- What happens when you stop taking letrozole?
- Does anastrozole cause hair loss?
- How do you relieve joint pain associated with tamoxifen or Aromasin?
- What are monoclonal antibodies?
- What is the success rate of Keytruda?
- Is letrozole a form of chemotherapy?
- What does anastrozole do to your body?
- What is the lifetime or cumulative dose for Adriamycin?
- Does Femara make your hair fall out?
- What is Herceptin? Is Herceptin a chemo drug? How does it work?
- Why give Taxol (Paxel) before carboplatin?
- Does letrozole affect blood sugar levels?
- Will insurance pay for the cost of Ibrance?
- How does AC (Adriamycin and Cytoxan [cyclophosphamide]) work for Breast Cancer?
- What is the success rate for Femara in breast cancer?
- What are 10 key Ibrance side effects to watch out for?
- Why do you need to take Xeloda with food?
- Is it common to lose hair AFTER stopping tamoxifen?
- What are the long-term side effects of Adriamycin?
- Which is better - Aromasin or Femara?
- How long can you stay on Herceptin and Perjeta?
- How long do you take Verzenio for?
- How long does Herceptin stay in your body?
Drug information
Related support groups
- Neratinib (8 questions, 3 members)
- Nerlynx (8 questions, 4 members)
- Breast Cancer (121 questions, 304 members)