Dr. Lustberg on the Real-World Use of Ovarian Suppression in HR+/HER2+ Breast Cancer

Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, associate professor, medical oncology, Yale School of Medicine, director, the Center for Breast Cancer, Smilow Cancer Hospital, chief, Breast Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, discusses the real-world use of ovarian suppression therapy in clinical practice for premenopausal patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer.

Results from a retrospective analysis of clinical practice patterns showed that most patients in this subgroup exhibit node-positive disease, categorizing them as high-risk, Lustberg states. 

Previous data indicated that patients with high-risk features who were eligible for chemotherapy may also benefit from ovarian suppression therapy, Lustberg continues. Despite this recommendation, HER2-positive patients were more likely to receive tamoxifen monotherapy vs ovarian suppression alone or in combination with endocrine therapy, she explains. 

This discrepancy likely results from a misconception that tamoxifen monotherapy is sufficient for HER2-positive patients regardless of other risk factors, Lustberg concludes.