Dr. O'Sullivan Discusses the Future of HER2+ Breast Cancer Treatment

Ciara O'Sullivan, MB, BCh, senior associate consultant, assistant professor of oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, discusses the future for HER2-positive breast cancer treatment.

O’Sullivan says that with progress, come questions, and the future of therapy for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer will focus on tailoring treatment to individual patients. Additionally, de-escalation and escalation will also be addressed and more fully developed as trials continue to read out. Data from the NSABP B-52, PERSEPHONE, and APT trials have called into question the optimal duration of treatment for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer in the last few years.

O’Sullivan adds that the findings anticipated for ongoing trials of HER2-directed therapy are liable to add significantly to the treatment landscape of the disease. Data with immunotherapy and CDK4/6 inhibitors are also anxiously awaited, as they have the potential to inform treatment decisions going forward.