Dr. Eng on the Potential of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2+ mCRC

Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO, David H. Johnson Chair in Surgical and Medical Oncology; co-leader of the Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Research Program; professor of medicine in hematology and oncology; co-director of GI Oncology; vice chair of the SWOG GI Committee; and director of the VICC Young Adult Cancers Initiative at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, discusses the potential of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu) in patients with HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Trastuzumab deruxtecan is one particular agent of interest in mCRC, having been evaluated in patients who had previously received a HER2-targeted therapy, according to Eng. Although HER2 positivity is rare in CRC, occurring in only 5% of patients, trastuzumab (Herceptin) has previously demonstrated benefit in this population; however, these patients may experience disease progression on the agent, Eng notes. As such, trastuzumab deruxtecan is being evaluated in the phase 2 DESTINY-CRC01 trial (NCT03384940) in patients who had previously received trastuzumab, Eng explains.

In December 2019, trastuzumab deruxtecan received FDA approval for use in patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have received 2 or more prior anti–HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting. More recently, in January 2021, the antibody-drug conjugate received regulatory approval for use in patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have previously received a trastuzumab-based regimen.