Conference Recap

Key Studies in Metastatic Breast Cancer From ASCO 2020


 

Key findings in metastatic breast cancer, presented at the ASCO 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting, ranged across all tumor subtypes.

Arguably, the top news in breast cancer was a plenary presentation addressing the role of locoregional therapy in advanced disease. Dr. Harold Burstein, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, comments that this study indicates systemic therapy as the mainstay treatment for woman with newly diagnosed advanced disease and a tumor in the breast.

In triple-negative breast cancer, Dr. Burstein highlights two studies. The KEYNOTE-355 study validates the addition of a checkpoint inhibitor in first-line therapy in women whose tumors are PD-L1 positive. The intriguing results of the SWOG S1416 trial, Dr. Burstein comments, suggest the use of PARP inhibition may extend beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancers.

In HER2-positive breast cancer, an update of the HER2CLIMB study indicates that the combination of tucatinib, trastuzumab, and capecitabine continues to benefit women with HER2-positive disease. Dr. Burstein expects this combination will be a new standard of care, particularly in women with brain metastases.

As for ER-positive breast cancer, Dr. Burstein reviews the BYLieve trial. Results of this study suggest alpelisib has activity in women with a PIK3CA mutation who have already received a CDK4/6 inhibitor.


Harold J. Burstein, Md, PhD

Professor, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Institute Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts. Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Recommended Reading

Pembrolizumab plus chemo shows benefits for PD-L1–rich triple-negative breast cancer
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
PPI added to chemo improves breast tumor response rate
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Capecitabine maintenance improved DFS, not OS, in TNBC patients
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
TRAIN-2: Anthracyclines added toxicity, with no increased efficacy, in HER2+ breast cancer
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Tucatinib improves PFS, OS in HER2+ breast cancer with brain metastases
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
ALTERNATE trial: No fulvestrant benefit in locally advanced ER+ HER2– breast cancer
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Expanding the role of PARP inhibitors in breast cancer
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Pyrotinib bests lapatinib in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Treating primary tumor doesn’t improve OS in stage IV breast cancer
MDedge Hematology and Oncology
Germline testing in advanced cancer can lead to targeted treatment
MDedge Hematology and Oncology