Akshaya Keerti, International Council Deputy Director at Federation of Medical Students Association (FMSA), shared on LinkedIn:
“One concept is quietly, but profoundly, reshaping breast cancer care: HER2-low.
Recently, I attended two excellent sessions by the International Association for Integrated Oncology:
- GI cancers with a focus on biliary tract malignancies
- Breast cancer, centered around real-world use of trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu)
But what truly stood out was how the evolving classification of HER2-low disease is redefining treatment boundaries. Patients who were once labeled ‘HER2-negative’ are now eligible for highly effective targeted therapy – most notably antibody-drug conjugates like Enhertu. This shift isn’t just semantic; it’s opening up entirely new therapeutic possibilities and improving outcomes in a group we previously had limited options for.
The case-based discussions pushed this further. Designing individualized treatment plans in real-world scenarios highlighted how these advances demand sharper clinical judgment – not just knowing the data, but knowing how to apply it.
From the GI session, it was equally exciting to see precision oncology gaining ground in biliary tract cancers, with FGFR2 and IDH1 targeted therapies, along with immunotherapy combinations, gradually changing what was once a very constrained landscape.
If there’s one takeaway: oncology is no longer just about categorizing disease – it’s about refining those categories to unlock better treatments.
More of these interactive, discussion-driven forums are needed. This is how we move from evidence to impact.
What a fun-filled and intellectually stimulating day!”
Other articles featuring Akshaya Keerti on OncoDaily.
