Dr. Siena on the Rationale for the DESTINY-CRC01 in Metastatic CRC

Salvatore Siena, MD, professor of medical oncology at Universita degli Studi di Milano and director of Niguarda Cancer Center at Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda in Italy, discusses the rationale for the ​phase 2 DESTINY-CRC01 trial in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

HER2-targeted therapy has demonstrated success in the metastatic setting as a treatment option for patients with HER2-positive CRC, says Siena. 

As such, ​the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu) appeared to be a rational agent to evaluate in this space, Siena explains. The potent compound includes an 8:1 ratio of the topoisomerase I inhibitor payload and HER2-directed monoclonal antibody, says Siena. 

Notably, CRC cells are sensitive to topoisomerase I inhibitors, such as irinotecan, which is ​a common treatment in this space, Siena concludes.