Dr. Blackwell on Treatment Landscape of HER2+ Breast Cancer

Kimberly L. Blackwell, MD, medical oncologist, Duke Cancer Institute, discusses the available treatments for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, as well as other agents that are in development during the 2016 OncLive State of the Science Summit on Metastatic Breast Cancer.

In this area, there are clinical trial data that help practitioners make treatment decisions for their patients, Blackwell explains. There are 3 HER2-targeted agents available, which are lapatinib (Tykerb), pertuzumab (Perjeta), and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1). Each of these have data that drives the optimal sequence of administration: pertuzumab in frontline, T-DM1 in second-line, and small molecular inhibitors, such as lapatinib, in third-line. It is also important, she adds, to continue HER2-targeted treatment in these patients.

Novel agents in development include neratinib, ONT-380, HER2-targeted liposomal chemotherapy, and next-generation versions of trasutuzumab.