Evolving HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Care: Targeted Therapies Poised to Replace Chemotherapy

This discussion between Dr. VK Gadi and Dr. Anne O’Dea examines progress in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer, emphasizing the transition from conventional chemotherapy to more targeted therapies.The discussion centers on the potential of novel agents, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), which may provide more durable responses and an improved safety profile.

The doctor’s optimism centers on a frontline trial assessing T-DXd in comparison to the Cleopatra standard. If T-DXd demonstrates prolonged, tolerable responses alongside a robust safety profile, it may supplant the existing regimen as the first-line treatment, thereby diminishing the reliance on chemotherapy. The discussion emphasizes the significance of progression-free survival and sequencing strategies to ascertain the timing and potential emergence of T-DXd in the treatment landscape as the new standard of care.