[New Hope for HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment: Trastuzumab Emtansine (T-DM1) From the Perspective of Nursing Care].

Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-positive breast cancer is associated with a more aggressive disease and poor prognosis. The development of trastuzumab, a HER2-targeted agent, has changed the paradigm of HER2-positive breast cancer treatment and improved survival rates dramatically. However, metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer patients eventually develop resistance to this treatment regimen eventually. A new anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate, Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), has been shown to improve treatment efficacy. However, side effects that differ from trastuzumab, including thrombocytopenia, liver dysfunction, fatigue, cardiotoxicity, pneumonitis, and peripheral neuropathy, may occur. Clinical nurses must understand the mechanism of this new agent and be aware of the symptoms and signs related to its side effects. Furthermore, clinical nurses should understand the varying degrees of these side effects, their probable causes, and the potential approaches to their management. Finally, clinical nurses must understand how to administer this agent in order to ensure patient safety. Understanding the side effects of T-DM1 and their management will help elevate nursing quality and caring efficacy.