Matthew Kurian: Redefining Curative-Intent Therapy in HER2+ Early Breast Cancer
Matthew Kurian/youtube.com

Matthew Kurian: Redefining Curative-Intent Therapy in HER2+ Early Breast Cancer

Matthew Kurian, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Physician at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“DESTINY-Breast05. Now in NEJM. 

Post-neoadjuvant T-DXd vs T-DM1 in high-risk residual HER2+ early breast cancer:

  • Events: 6.2% vs 12.5%
  • HR 0.47 (95% CI 0.34–0.66), P<0.001
  • 3-yr iDFS: 92.4% vs 83.7%

Distant recurrence:

  •  5.1% vs 9.9%
  •  HR 0.49 (95% CI 0.34–0.71)

High-risk population:

  •  81% node-positive
  • 52% inoperable at presentation
  • 79% dual HER2 therapy pre-op

Safety:

  •  Grade ≥3 AEs: 50.6% vs 51.9%
  • ILD: 9.6% vs 1.6%
  • 2 ILD deaths (0.2%)

My take:

This post-neoadjuvant escalation will likely be more common than DB11. Most will still use TCHP neoadjuvantly, reserving DB11 for very high-risk presentations.

T-DM1 still has a role in lower-risk residual disease and not everyone qualifies for DB-05 approach.

Practical points:

  •  ILD monitoring with CT scans q6 weeks is critical.
  •  Consider 4 cycles neoadjuvant (DB11) vs 14 cycles adjuvant (DB05) — more exposure, more cumulative toxicity risk.

HER2 curative-intent therapy just evolved.”

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