Dr. Andre on Questions With Immunotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Fabrice André, MD, professor, Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Gustave Roussy, discusses the remaining questions with immunotherapy agents as potential therapy for patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Andre expanded on this in an interview with OncLive during the 35th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference.

The first question with immunotherapy is determining the prevalence of patients with triple-negative breast cancer that are sensitive to PD-L1, Andre explains; it currently is estimated to be 25% of patients in the first-line setting. Secondly, robust data emerging that, when a tumor is presenting with lymphocytic infiltration, the patient is more likely to be sensitive to immunotherapy.

Researchers are also seeking to improve the response rates currently reported with single-agent immunotherapy, Andre says. Currently, data in the neoadjuvant setting demonstrate that single-agent PD-1 therapy combined with chemotherapy. Until now, there are not phase III trial data in the first-line setting, but they are highly anticipated by the community, he concludes.

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