Dr. Basho on the Integration of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Reva K. Basho, MD, assistant professor of medicine, co-director, Women’s Cancer Program, Samuel Oschin Cancer Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discusses the integration of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu) in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Following its FDA approval in December 2019, trastuzumab deruxtecan has become a standard third- or fourth-line therapy for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, Basho says. When to sequence the agent is largely dependent on patient and physician preferences, Basho adds.

However, toxicity remains a concern with trastuzumab deruxtecan, particularly with regard to the risk of fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD), Basho explains. Other therapies that are available for later-line use in HER2-positive breast cancer are generally well tolerated with limited alopecia, Basho says. As such, safety needs to be considered when selecting trastuzumab deruxtecan for a patient, Basho concludes.