Dr Mouabbi on Areas for Further Investigation in HER2+ Breast Cancer

"Right now we're in this gray zone area [regarding the continued role of SOC carboplatin in HER2-positive breast cancer] but we're soon going to figure it out. We [also] need better agent that can penetrate the brain and prevent the cancer reoccurring in the brain."

Jason A. Mouabbi, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discussed unmetneeds and research questions requiring further clarification in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer.

There are several key challenges and areas requiring further investigation in the treatment landscape of HER2-positive advanced breast cancer, Mouabbi asserted. A primary concern revolves around the continued role of carboplatin in current standard of care regimens, he stated. Mouabbi described this as a "gray zone area," acknowledging that while carboplatin remains a standard, there is an expectation that it will soon fall out of favor. He advised clinicians to maintain a low threshold for discontinuing carboplatin if patients experience poor tolerability issues, which he noted affect the majority of patients. This suggests a growing sentiment towards moving beyond carboplatin, despite its current standard-of-care status, Mouabbi explained.

Another critical unmet need highlighted by Mouabbi is the development of better agents that can penetrate the brain. He emphasized that HER2-positive breast cancer has a unique propensity to metastasize to the brain, distinguishing it from other breast cancer subtypes. Currently, the regimens utilized for HER2-positive breast cancer are known to have poor brain penetration, Mouabbi said. The brain acts as a "sanctuary" for this cancer subtype, underscoring the urgent need for new drugs that can effectively reach and treat brain metastases, thereby preventing cancer recurrence in this vital organ, Mouabbi explained. Future research is expected to clarify these areas, paving the way for more effective and tolerable treatment strategies, he concluded.