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Author(s):
Manish A. Shah, MD, discusses the use of trastuzumab biosimilars in gastric cancer.
Manish A. Shah, MD, Bartlett Family Associate Professor Gastrointestinal Oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College and associate attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, discusses the use of trastuzumab (Herceptin) biosimilars in gastric cancer.
The trastuzumab biosimilar goes after a proven target, Shah explains . It is already known that inhibiting HER2 signaling with trastuzumab is effective in gastric and gastroesophageal junction tumors that overexpress HER2. A biosimilar will do the same thing at a reduced cost, which helps patients avoid financial toxicity, says Shah.
Additionally, there is a biosimilar available for bevacizumab (Avastin) for colorectal cancer. Across gastrointestinal malignancies, biosimilars are going to have an important impact, concludes Shah.