Olwen Hahn, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, discusses the impact of trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1; Kadcyla) on the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

The agent was examined in the phase 3 KATHERINE trial (NCT01772472) vs trastuzumab (Herceptin) as adjuvant therapy in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who have residual disease in the breast or axillary lymph nodes following preoperative therapy, according to Jones. KATHERINE was a landmark study, as its results changed the standard of care for this patient population, Hahn says. Data from this trial led to the 

 for patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer who have residual invasive disease following neoadjuvant trastuzumab and chemotherapy. 

Prior to this study, the standard of care for patients with residual disease was treatment with trastuzumab, Hahn notes. However, this study showed that in this high-risk patient population, switching to T-DM1 resulted in a 50% decrease in relative risk of invasive recurrence or death, and an 11.3% absolute improvement in invasive disease-free survival, Hahn concludes.

Videos

Olwen Hahn, MD, discusses the impact of trastuzumab emtansine on the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

Dr. Hahn on the Impact of Trastuzumab Emtansine in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Olwen Hahn, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, discusses the convenience of the fixed-dose combination of trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta) in a subcutaneous formulation in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Based on findings from the phase 3 FeDeriCa trial, on June 29, 2020, the FDA approved a fixed-dose combination of trastuzumab plus pertuzumab with hyaluronidase-zzxf (Phesgo) for administration via subcutaneous injection in combination with intravenous chemotherapy, for the treatment of patients with early and metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.

Previously, the initial infusion with the combination of monoclonal antibodies would take around 150 minutes, with subsequent doses lasting approximately 60 minutes, says Hahn. The subcutaneous formulation can be administered in less than 10 minutes, which is significantly more convenient for patients, Hahn explains. Moreover, open chairs may be limited in a cancer center’s infusion suite, so having patients receive quicker therapy opens up space for other patients who require outpatient treatment, concludes Hahn.

Olwen Hahn, MD, discusses the convenience of the fixed-dose combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab in a subcutaneous formulation in HER2-positive breast cancer.  



Dr. Hahn on the Convenience of Subcutaneous Trastuzumab/Pertuzumab in HER2+ Breast Cancer 

Olwen Hahn, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses future research directions with tucatinib (Tukysa) in the treatment of patients with breast cancer.

One of the most promising recent developments in the breast cancer treatment paradigm has been the 

 FDA approval of tucatinib for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive disease

, which took place in April 2020, Hahn says. The agent has demonstrated clinical activity in patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastases, as well as efficacy in preventing new or worsening CNS metastases, according to Hahn. 

Currently, tucatinib is being further examined in the phase 3 HER2CLIMB-02 trial (NCT03975647) in combination with ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1; Kadcyla) in the second-line metastatic setting. Additionally, tucatinib and T-DM1 are being examined in the phase 3 CompassHER2 RD trial (NCT04457596) in patients who have residual disease, Hahn explains. Experts in the field are interested to see how treatment escalation with the combination performs in high-risk patient populations, as well as observing its activity in preventing CNS metastases, Hahn concludes. 

Olwen Hahn, MD, discusses future research directions with tucatinib (Tukysa) in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. 

Olwen Hahn, MD

Articles

Dr. Hahn on the Impact of Trastuzumab Emtansine in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Dr. Hahn on the Convenience of Subcutaneous Trastuzumab/Pertuzumab in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Dr. Hahn on Future Research Directions with Tucatinib in Breast Cancer