Dr. Wei on the Potential Implications of the CompassHER2 RD Trial in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Mei Wei, MD, an internal medicine specialist at the University of Utah Health, discusses the potential clinical implications of the ongoing, phase 3 CompassHER2 RD trial (NCT04457596) in HER2-positive breast cancer.

The CompassHER2 RD trial is evaluating the combination of ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1; Kadcyla) and tucatinib (Tukysa) vs T-DM1 alone in patients with high-risk HER2-positive breast cancer who progressed on neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens, such as docetaxel/trastuzumab (Herceptin)/pertuzumab (Perjeta), explains Wei.

Although the integration of T-DM1/tucatinib to the second-line setting could be beneficial for patients, utilizing a doublet early in the course of treatment may not be optimal, says Wei. It may be more feasible to utilize tucatinib alone in the second-line setting and reserve T-DM1 for the third-line setting, Wei adds.

As such, findings from the CompassHER2 RD trial must show significant clinical benefit with the combination vs T-DM1 alone without substantial toxicity to be considered in the second-line setting for this patient population, Wei concludes.