Emtansine
Emtansine (pronounced em-TAN-seen) is a chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of certain types of cancer. It is often used in combination with other drugs to enhance its effectiveness.
Etymology
The term "Emtansine" is derived from the chemical name "mertansine" with the prefix "Em" added to indicate its use in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The "Em" stands for maytansinoid, a type of cytotoxic agent, and the "tansine" is derived from the word "maytansine", a naturally occurring substance found in certain plants that has been shown to have anti-cancer properties.
Usage
Emtansine is used in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer, a type of cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This protein promotes the growth of cancer cells. Emtansine is used when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastasized) or cannot be removed with surgery.
Related Terms
- Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine: A drug that combines emtansine with the antibody trastuzumab. It is used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer.
- Maytansinoid: A type of cytotoxic agent that is used in the creation of emtansine.
- Antibody-drug conjugate: A type of drug that combines an antibody with a cytotoxic agent like emtansine to target and kill cancer cells.
See Also
- Chemotherapy
- Cancer
- HER2-positive breast cancer
- Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine
- Maytansinoid
- Antibody-drug conjugate
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