Dr. Gradishar on the Significance of Drug Development in HER2+ Breast Cancer

William Gradishar, MD, Department of Medicine, Betsy Bramsen Professorship of Breast Oncology, and professor of medicine, hematology and oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, discusses the significance of drug development in HER2-positive breast cancer.

HER2-positive breast cancer has been an area of ongoing research efforts in the last few years, Gradishar says. For example, the introduction of novel therapies represents additional options for patients with HER2-positive disease, Gradishar continues. Despite the improvement in outcomes for patients with early-stage disease, patients with HER2-positive breast cancer often experience disease recurrence. Therefore, additional effective options are needed for patients with metastatic or de novo disease, Gradishar explains.

These transformative agents are improving survival for this patient population, Gradishar says. However, additional research regarding drug development is needed in HER2-positive breast cancer to further prolong survival for patients, Gradishar concludes.