Dr. Grothey on Potential Combinations With Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in GI Malignancies

Axel Grothey, MD, medical oncologist and director of Gastrointestinal Cancer Research at West Cancer Center and Research Institute, discusses potential combination strategies with fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu) in gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies.

On January 15, 2021, the FDA approved trastuzumab deruxtecan for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer who have received a prior trastuzumab (Herceptin)-based regimen. 

Although the approval represents a significant advance in the second-line setting, there is rationale to move the agent into the frontline space, says Grothey.

Additionally, since trastuzumab deruxtecan is made up of an antibody linked to chemotherapy, combination regimens with additional chemotherapies, such as fluoropyrimidine, immunotherapies, or targeted therapies are of clinical interest across GI cancers, Grothey explains. For example, a potential combination that could be evaluated is trastuzumab deruxtecan plus bevacizumab (Avastin) in patients with colon cancer, concludes Grothey.