Dr. Cheng on the Role of T-DM1 in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Yee Chung Cheng, MD, associate professor of medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses the role of ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1; Kadcyla) in HER2-positive breast cancer.

With all the available therapies in this treatment paradigm, it is difficult to determine an individualized treatment approach, especially since the major trials have slightly different patient populations enrolled. Neoadjuvant treatment should be the priority, Cheng notes. For patients who do not fit into the neoadjuvant setting, then the best available adjuvant therapy should be considered.

For patients who do not achieve a complete pathologic response after neoadjuvant therapy, this is where T-DM1 fits in, Cheng says. Researchers have long known that this patient population has a high risk of recurrence, but for years there were no effective treatments for it. T-DM1 addresses that unmet need.