Dr. Hays on Treatment Options in HER2-Positive CRC

John L. Hays, MD, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University and a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital, discusses expanding treatment options for HER2-positive colorectal cancer (CRC).

Targeting HER2 has evolved from the days when trastuzumab (Herceptin) was the only targeted agent, Hays says. The treatment paradigm now includes antibodies that target the extracellular domain, antibody-drug conjugates, and small-molecule inhibitors, Hays says. However, evaluation regarding whether to use these treatments as single agents or in combination is still ongoing, Hays notes.

For example, small-molecule inhibitors, such as tucatinib (Tukysa), could target patients with HER2-positive disease who are not as responsive to trastuzumab alone, Hays explains. The phase 2 MOUNTAINEER trial (NCT03043313) is exploring trastuzumab plus tucatinib in patients with HER2-positive metastatic CRC, Hays concludes.