Dr. Hamilton on How Neratinib Targets HER2+ Breast Cancer

Erika P. Hamilton, MD, director of the Breast and Gynecologic Research Program at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses how neratinib (Nerlynx) targets HER2-positive breast cancer.

Following 1 year of trastuzumab (Herceptin), patients enrolled on a clinical trial received neratinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks HER2, or placebo during another 1 year of trastuzumab, Hamilton says. This trial resulted in neratinib's FDA approval, as there was a small, but meaningful improvement (< 2%) in women who did not have their disease recur during that time.

Neratinib has been shown to have a lesser benefit in patients who have a lower risk of recurrence, she says. Another safety concern is that patients may also experience diarrhea despite taking antidiarrheal medication.