Ciara O'Sullivan, MB, BCh, senior associate consultant, assistant professor of oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, discusses how HER2-targeted treatment can be more individualized in the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

HER2-positive breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and different patients will benefit from different treatment approaches, says O’Sullivan. The identification of accurate and reproducible biomarkers of response and resistance will be key in tailoring treatment more effectively going forward. As it stands, physicians have no reliable biomarkers upon which to base treatment, she adds.

However, efforts are ongoing. Potential strategies include looking at the molecular intrinsic subtypes of HER2-positive breast cancer as well as immune infiltrates. Treatment de-escalation is another feasible personalized approach that the majority of patients can benefit from. Although physicians have access to newer HER2-targeted treatment regimens, the majority of patients will only experience a slight benefit in the adjuvant setting, concludes O’Sullivan.

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Dr. O'Sullivan on Individualized HER2-Targeted Therapy in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Ciara O'Sullivan, MB, BCh, senior associate consultant, assistant professor of oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, discusses the future for HER2-positive breast cancer treatment.

O’Sullivan says that with progress, come questions, and the future of therapy for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer will focus on tailoring treatment to individual patients. Additionally, de-escalation and escalation will also be addressed and more fully developed as trials continue to read out. Data from the NSABP B-52, PERSEPHONE, and APT trials have called into question the optimal duration of treatment for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer in the last few years.

O’Sullivan adds that the findings anticipated for ongoing trials of HER2-directed therapy are liable to add significantly to the treatment landscape of the disease. Data with immunotherapy and CDK4/6 inhibitors are also anxiously awaited, as they have the potential to inform treatment decisions going forward.

Ciara O'Sullivan, MB, BCh, senior associate consultant, assistant professor of oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, discusses the future for HER2-positive breast cancer treatment.
 

Ciara O'Sullivan, MB, BCh

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Dr. O'Sullivan on Individualized HER2-Targeted Therapy in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Dr. O'Sullivan Discusses the Future of HER2+ Breast Cancer Treatment