What is the recommended dosing regimen for Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan)?

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Last updated: June 26, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

The recommended dosing regimen for Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) is 5.4 mg/kg administered as an intravenous infusion once every three weeks (21-day cycle) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs. This dosing regimen is based on the most recent and highest quality study available, which showed that the 5.4 mg/kg dose had a manageable safety profile and favorable efficacy outcomes, including an overall response rate (ORR) of 26.5% and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.7 months 1.

Key Considerations for Dosing

  • The dose should be administered as an intravenous infusion over 90 minutes for the first infusion, and if well-tolerated, subsequent infusions can be administered over 30 minutes.
  • Dose modifications may be necessary based on individual patient tolerance, with potential dose reductions to 4.4 mg/kg and then to 3.2 mg/kg if needed for adverse reactions.
  • Patients should be premedicated with antiemetics prior to each dose according to local institutional guidelines to manage nausea and vomiting.

Monitoring and Safety

  • Regular monitoring for side effects is essential, particularly for interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis, neutropenia, and cardiac dysfunction, as these were among the most common treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) of grade 3 or worse observed in the study 1.
  • The safety profile of trastuzumab deruxtecan was generally manageable, but it is crucial to closely monitor patients for any signs of toxicity and adjust the dose accordingly.

Mechanism of Action

  • Enhertu is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines the HER2-targeting properties of trastuzumab with a cytotoxic payload (deruxtecan), allowing for targeted delivery of chemotherapy to HER2-expressing cancer cells while minimizing systemic toxicity. This mechanism of action supports its use in patients with HER2-expressing tumors, regardless of the presence of stable CNS metastases at baseline or previous anti–PD-1 and anti–PD-L1 therapy 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ... The recommended dosage of ENHERTU for HER2-positive, HER2-low, or HER2-ultralow breast cancer, HER2-mutant NSCLC, and HER2-positive (IHC 3+) solid tumors is 5.4 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion once every 3 weeks (21-day cycle) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. ... The recommended dosage of ENHERTU for HER2-positive gastric cancer is 6.4 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion once every 3 weeks (21-day cycle) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

The recommended dosing regimen for Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) is:

  • 5.4 mg/kg every 3 weeks for HER2-positive, HER2-low, or HER2-ultralow breast cancer, HER2-mutant NSCLC, and HER2-positive (IHC 3+) solid tumors
  • 6.4 mg/kg every 3 weeks for HER2-positive gastric cancer Dosing is given as an intravenous infusion once every 3 weeks (21-day cycle) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity 2

From the Research

Dosing Regimen for Enhertu (Trastuzumab Deruxtecan)

  • The recommended dosing regimen for Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) is not explicitly stated in the provided studies, but the studies suggest that it is administered intravenously once every 3 weeks 3, 4, 5, 6.
  • The dose of trastuzumab deruxtecan used in the studies varied, with doses ranging from 0.8 to 8.0 mg/kg 5.
  • In the phase 1 dose-escalation study, the maximum tolerated dose of trastuzumab deruxtecan was not reached, and the recommended phase 2 dosing was 5.4 or 6.4 mg/kg 5.
  • In the DESTINY-Lung01 study, patients received trastuzumab deruxtecan 5.4 mg/kg or 6.4 mg/kg intravenously once every 3 weeks 6.
  • In the study of trastuzumab deruxtecan in recurrent uterine serous carcinoma, the patient received 5.4 mg/kg T-DXd without issue 7.

Administration and Safety

  • Trastuzumab deruxtecan is administered intravenously once every 3 weeks 3, 4, 5, 6.
  • Common treatment-related adverse events included haematological and gastrointestinal disorders 3.
  • Interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis is associated with a regulatory warning and requires careful monitoring 3, 6.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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