Ricardo Costa, MD, MSc, medical oncologist, Department of Breast Oncology, Clinical Investigator Track, Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses the patient population included in the phase 3 OlympiA trial (NCT02032823) in breast cancer.

Findings from the randomized OlympiA trial demonstrated a statistically meaningful improvement in disease-free survival with adjuvant olaparib (Lynparza) vs placebo in patients with 

2-mutant, HER2-negative, early-stage breast cancer. The large, multinational trial enrolled over 800 patients with germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic 

 mutations. Patients were randomized 1:1 to treatment with one year of adjuvant olaparib or placebo, Costa says. 

Inclusion criteria for OlympiA stated that patients needed have a diagnosis of HER2–negative disease, Costa adds. Moreover, the majority of patients enrolled on the study had triple-negative breast cancer, Costa concludes.

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Ricardo Costa, MD, MSc, discusses the patient population included in the phase 3 OlympiA trial in breast cancer. 


Dr. Costa on the Patients Included in the OlympiA Trial in HER2- Breast Cancer 

Ricardo Costa, MD, MSc, medical oncologist, Department of Breast Oncology, Clinical Investigator Track, Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses ongoing research efforts in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Although drug development has not moved as rapidly in TNBC as it has in HER2-positive breast cancer, significant research efforts are underway for patients with TNBC, Costa says. Notably, immunotherapy remains an area of research to improve anticancer activity without compromising safety in this patient population, Costa explains. Moreover, immunotherapy could minimize the use of chemotherapy in TNBC, Costa adds. 

Additionally, investigational antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are in clinical development, Costa says. These agents could offer an alternative option to the ADC sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy), which received a full approval on April 7, 2021, by the FDA for the treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic TNBC who have received at least 2 prior systemic therapies, including one for metastatic disease. 

Additionally, PARP inhibitors could play a significant role in the adjuvant treatment of patients with TNBC who harbor germline 

Ricardo Costa, MD, MSc, discusses ongoing research efforts in triple-negative breast cancer.



Ricardo Costa, MD, MSc

Articles

Dr. Costa on the Patients Included in the OlympiA Trial in HER2- Breast Cancer

Dr. Costa Discusses Ongoing Research Efforts in TNBC