Dr. Falkson on Opportunities for De-Escalating Therapy in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Carla Falkson, MBChB, MMed, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, discusses opportunities for de-escalating therapy in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. 

Determining which patients with HER2-positive breast cancer can benefit from de-escalated therapy has proven to be challenging, according to Falkson. However, more clearly defining subgroups within this population may help to identify who may benefit from a de-escalation approach, Falkson says.

Some molecular markers have been applied to patients with HER2-amplified disease, Falkson adds. These markers are being used extensively in patients with hormone receptor–positive breast cancer that are HER2 non-amplified, Falkson concludes.