Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 26, 2025

Quantifying Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Tumor Spheroid Model: Application for Drug Discovery
13:19

Quantifying Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Tumor Spheroid Model: Application for Drug Discovery

Published on: April 26, 2024

3.0K

Novel Therapies for the Treatment of HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer: A Canadian Perspective

Cristiano Ferrario1,2, Anna Christofides3, Anil Abraham Joy4,5

  • 1Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A OG4, Canada.

Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.)
|April 21, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Novel anti-HER2 therapies offer improved outcomes for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Treatment sequencing, including options for brain metastases, is crucial for managing resistance and enhancing patient survival.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Medical Oncology
  • Translational Research

Background:

  • HER2-positive breast cancer outcomes have improved with targeted therapies.
  • Treatment resistance in the metastatic setting remains a significant clinical challenge.
  • Novel therapeutic agents and clinical trials are essential for advancing care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current anti-HER2 treatment options for metastatic breast cancer.
  • To present a practical treatment sequencing algorithm for the Canadian context.
  • To discuss emerging therapies and their role in managing treatment resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current clinical trial data and treatment guidelines.
  • Analysis of efficacy data for first-line, second-line, and third-line therapies.
  • Development of a treatment sequencing algorithm based on evidence and clinical landscape.

Main Results:

  • First-line pertuzumab + trastuzumab + taxane offers potential cure in select patients.
  • Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) shows high efficacy in the second-line setting, replacing T-DM1.
  • Tucatinib + trastuzumab + capecitabine improves survival for patients with brain metastases.

Conclusions:

  • Sequential anti-HER2 therapies can significantly improve outcomes in metastatic breast cancer.
  • A structured treatment algorithm is vital for optimizing patient management.
  • Ongoing research and novel agents are critical for overcoming treatment resistance.
Keywords:
HER2breast cancerhuman epidermal growth factor receptor 2oncology

More Related Videos

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?14:20

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?

Published on: June 13, 2014

16.8K
Looking for Driver Pathways of Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapy: Drug Resistant Subclone Generation and Sensitivity Restoring by Gene Knock-down08:59

Looking for Driver Pathways of Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapy: Drug Resistant Subclone Generation and Sensitivity Restoring by Gene Knock-down

Published on: December 11, 2017

7.3K

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.9K
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.4K
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
533
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
689
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
5.1K