Dr. Hahn on Future Research Directions with Tucatinib in Breast Cancer

Olwen Hahn, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses future research directions with tucatinib (Tukysa) in the treatment of patients with breast cancer.

One of the most promising recent developments in the breast cancer treatment paradigm has been the  FDA approval of tucatinib for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive disease, which took place in April 2020, Hahn says. The agent has demonstrated clinical activity in patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastases, as well as efficacy in preventing new or worsening CNS metastases, according to Hahn. 

Currently, tucatinib is being further examined in the phase 3 HER2CLIMB-02 trial (NCT03975647) in combination with ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1; Kadcyla) in the second-line metastatic setting. Additionally, tucatinib and T-DM1 are being examined in the phase 3 CompassHER2 RD trial (NCT04457596) in patients who have residual disease, Hahn explains. Experts in the field are interested to see how treatment escalation with the combination performs in high-risk patient populations, as well as observing its activity in preventing CNS metastases, Hahn concludes.