Dr. Wesolowski on the Potential Future Utility of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Robert Wesolowski, MD, a medical oncologist and associate professor-clinical, member, Translational Therapeutics Program, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center­–James, discusses the potential future utility of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu) in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Findings from the DESTINY-Breast01 trial (NCT03248492) demonstrated a response rate of approximately 60% with trastuzumab deruxtecan among patients with heavily pretreated HER2-positive breast cancer, says Wesolowski. These findings suggest that trastuzumab deruxtecan could be moved into earlier lines of treatment where ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1; Kadcyla) is currently the standard of care, Wesolowski explains. For example, trastuzumab deruxtecan may have clinical utility in the second-line or adjuvant settings in place of T-DM1, Wesolowski says. However, pulmonary toxicity remains a key concern when treating patients with trastuzumab deruxtecan, Wesolowski adds.

The randomized phase 3 DESTINY-Breast05 trial (NCT04622319) is ongoing, comparing these therapies head-to-head in patients with high-risk HER2-positive breast cancer who have residual disease following neoadjuvant therapy, concludes Wesolowski.