Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) is a prescription drug used to treat certain breast and bladder cancers. Scientists have studied the success rate of Trodelvy and found it to be effective in managing certain aspects of these cancers in some people.

Trodelvy can help improve survival rates for people with some types of breast cancer and bladder cancer. It can also help prevent certain quality of life factors from becoming worse.

This article discusses Trodelvy treatment, including its uses and whether it’s chemotherapy or immunotherapy. It also discusses side effects, results, and general outlook for those using this medication.

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Trodelvy is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein given over time) by a healthcare professional in a hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office. You may be prescribed other drugs along with Trodelvy.

This drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following types of cancer in adults:

  • Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): TNBC is a type of cancer that tends to grow and spread fast, with fewer treatment options than other cancers. Doctors prescribe Trodelvy for this type of cancer in certain people who have received two or more prior treatments. (This includes at least one treatment for metastatic cancer.)
  • Hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer: HR-positive and HER2-negative breast cancers are some of the most common types of breast cancer. Doctors prescribe Trodelvy for these cancers in certain people who have already received endocrine therapy and at least two additional treatments for metastatic cancer.
  • Urothelial cancer: Doctors prescribe Trodelvy for cancers that affect the urinary tract, including some bladder cancers. Doctors prescribe Trodelvy for these cancers in certain people who have already received a platinum-based chemotherapy treatment and an immunotherapy drug.

Trodelvy is a targeted therapy drug. It belongs to a group of drugs called antibody-drug conjugates that combine immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

Trodelvy is a biologic drug (which means it’s made from living cells) that uses an antibody called sacituzumab and a chemotherapy drug called govitecan-hziy. These work together to accurately deliver govitecan-hziy into your cancer cells and then help to destroy them.

Your doctor will prescribe a repeating 21-day Trodelvy treatment cycle. You’ll receive a dose on the first and eighth day of a 21-day period before starting the cycle again.

You and your doctor will decide how many cycles you need, based on factors that include:

  • how your cancer responds to treatment
  • how well your body tolerates side effects of the drug

You may need several months of treatment.

Some common side effects of Trodelvy include:

Doctors may prescribe additional medication to help manage some of these side effects. Get immediate professional medical care if you develop signs of infection during Trodelvy treatment.

For more information on common, mild, and serious side effects Trodelvy may cause, check out this article.

In the drug’s studies, researchers found that Trodelvy helped people manage certain effects of cancer.

They compared results of people not taking Trodelvy to those who were and found that half the people taking this medication:

  • lived without cancer progression for about 38% longer
  • lived about 29% longer overall
  • took 1.3 months longer for their overall health and quality of life to worsen
  • took almost 1 month longer for their fatigue to worsen

They did not find any significant differences in how a person’s pain worsened.

Does Trodelvy shrink tumors?

Yes, it may. In studies, researchers examined how 112 people with certain types of bladder and urinary tract cancers responded to Trodelvy. They found that:

  • Trodelvy shrank tumors by at least 30% in 25 people.
  • Six people had tumors that disappeared.

What’s the life expectancy with Trodelvy?

Trodelvy can improve life expectancy. Scientists examined the effect of Trodelvy on breast cancer in a 2021 study. They found that people who received Trodelvy treatment lived an average of 11.8 months. This was compared to 6.9 months for people using other treatments.

What’s the survival rate with Trodelvy?

In 2023, scientists studied Trodelvy survival rates and found that the 12-month overall survival rate was 61%.

Trodelvy is a targeted therapy that can help destroy cancer by delivering a chemotherapy drug into cancer cells.

Scientists studying Trodelvy have found that it can improve life expectancy by several months. It may also shrink tumors and improve your quality of life.

Trodelvy can cause a number of side effects, but your doctor may be able to prescribe medication to help manage many of them.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.