After years of varying decisions by lower courts regarding the patents held on a test for genetic mutations associated with breast cancer, the US Supreme Court has ruled that a segment of DNA in isolation is a natural product and not eligible for patent protection.

In this segment, the panelists discuss the combination of novel agents with hormonal therapies. To begin the conversation, the BOLERO-2 trial is explored, which looked at the mTOR inhibitor everolimus as a treatment for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Although recent findings suggest some patients with HER2-negative breast cancer would benefit from therapies directed against overexpression of the protein, two leading oncologists do not see an immediate impact on clinical practice as further validation is needed.