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Olubukola Ayodele: Discussing T-DXd toxicities in breast cancer at a thought-provoking meeting in Lisbon

Olubukola Ayodele/LinkedIn

Apr 29, 2025, 17:20

Olubukola Ayodele: Discussing T-DXd toxicities in breast cancer at a thought-provoking meeting in Lisbon

Olubukola Ayodele, Consultant Medical Oncologist at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“I just returned from a thought-provoking meeting in Lisbon, where key opinion leaders, clinicians, and stakeholders from 28 countries gathered to discuss an increasingly important topic in breast oncology: the management of toxicities associated with trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd). Chaired by Profs Hope Rugo and Florian Scotté.

This conversation couldn’t be more timely. Following the recent press release of DESTINY-Breast 09, which infers positive results for T-DXd as a potential first-line treatment for metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, the stakes have never been higher. While we await the full dataset, the anticipation is palpable. If these results hold, T-DXd could reshape our frontline treatment paradigm, bringing new hope to patients and new responsibilities for us as oncologists.

T-DXd has demonstrated transformative efficacy, but like all powerful agents, it comes with risks—interstitial lung disease (ILD) being one of the most serious. ILD can be fatal if not promptly recognised and managed. As we consider expanding access to this drug earlier in the treatment journey, our shared responsibility to minimise harm while maximising benefit becomes even more critical.

The Lisbon discussions centred on:

Establishing standardised screening protocols
Educating multidisciplinary teams to recognise symptoms early
Implementing proactive monitoring and risk mitigation strategies
Sharing global experiences, especially from countries already using T-DXd widely, like in the HER2 low setting.

This meeting underscored a key truth in modern oncology: Innovation must be accompanied by safety preparedness. As we advocate for access to cutting-edge therapies, we must also invest in education, infrastructure, and equity in care.

Also, as we develop guidelines on best management of these toxicities, it is important to include patient voices as they have lived experiences.

The future of breast cancer care is evolving rapidly. We need to evolve with it intelligently, ethically, and equitably.

For oncologists who use T-Dxd, are there patients who you would be nervous about giving the drug to? Let’s discuss.”

Olubukola Ayodele: Discussing T-DXd toxicities in breast cancer at a thought-provoking meeting in Lisbon

Olubukola Ayodele recapped key takeaways from a multinational meeting in Lisbon focused on managing trastuzumab deruxtecan-associated toxicities, especially interstitial lung disease, in HER2-positive breast cancer. The event coincided with DESTINY-Breast 09 trial updates, reinforcing the need for safety measures alongside expanded access.

You can find more posts featuring Olubukola Ayodele on OncoDaily.

Read about “DESTINY-Breast09 trial: Enhertu + Pertuzumab Improves PFS in First-Line HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer” on OncoDaily.

Olubukola Ayodele: Discussing T-DXd toxicities in breast cancer at a thought-provoking meeting in Lisbon