Dr. Rimawi on Future Research Directions in Metastatic HER2+ Breast Cancer

Mothaffar Fahed Rimawi, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, executive medical director, associate director of clinical affairs, co-leader, Breast Cancer Program, chief of oncology service line, Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, discusses future research directions in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. 

Currently, several new antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and other novel agents are in early development for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, according to Rimawi. Combination strategies will become increasingly important, as so many agents are available, Rimawi adds. A biologically-driven approach should be utilized in order to rationally combine these agents, according to Rimawi. Upcoming combination studies could potentially increase the number of available treatment options for this population.

ADCs, TKIs, bispecific antibodies, and combinations of all of these agents, as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors, are currently being examined in the metastatic setting, and data on these approaches are highly anticipated, Rimawi concludes.