Breast Cancer

Along with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy, immunotherapy has emerged as the fifth pillar of cancer treatment and is revolutionizing cancer treatment across the board.

Sacituzumab govitecan is an effective new medication for people with metastatic TNBC that is well-tolerated. The most prevalent side effects seen in individuals with metastatic TNBC using sacituzumab govitecan are similar to those seen with chemotherapy and can be managed with early, proactive intervention.

SASCIA was a phase 3 trial evaluating sacituzumab govitecan, an antibody–drug conjugate that received accelerated approval from the FDA in 2020 for the treatment of patients with metastatic TNBC who have received ≥2 previous therapies for metastatic disease.

In October 2021, trastuzumab deruxtecan was granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA in the United States for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have received ≥1 previous anti-HER2–based regimens.

Two new antibody–drug conjugates with a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload have recently been added to the therapy options for patients with metastatic TNBC and HER2-positive breast cancer.

PARP inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors have changed the breast cancer landscape, with trials that show improved progression-free survival and overall survival.

Improved knowledge of the biologic pathways, along with a number of new targeted therapies, has resulted in better outcomes for patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. These new therapies have been used in combination with older treatments to optimize patient outcomes.

CDK4/6 inhibitors in combination with antiestrogen therapy are the standard of care for HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer. However, a diverse landscape of resistance to these therapies exists, which has resulted in precision-guided therapeutic strategies that are under active clinical development.

Olaparib monotherapy has shown promising clinical results in treatment-naïve TNBC with germline or somatic homologous repair deficiency, with fewer adverse events compared with traditional chemotherapy.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact healthcare across the globe.