Sara M. Tolaney, MD, MPH, discusses the evolution of treatment inHER2-positive breast cancer.

Sara M. Tolaney, MD, MPH, associate director of the Susan F. Smith Center for Womens Cancers; director of Clinical Trials, Breast Oncology;andsenior physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, as well as anassistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, discusses the evolution of treatment inHER2-positive breast cancer.

Historically, patients with HER2-positive breast cancer were mostly treated in the adjuvant setting with HER2-targeted therapy, says Tolaney.However, in the past few years, the field has developed a greater understandingof the importance of preoperative therapy.

Additionally, data have shown that adjuvant treatment can be tailored to women who have residual disease after receiving preoperative HER2-targeted therapy, Tolaney explains.Further, as displayed in the phase 3APHINITY trial, outcomes can also be improved by adding pertuzumab (Perjeta) to trastuzumab (Herceptin) and chemotherapy.

Future research efforts should focus on refining therapies, as well as establishingde-escalation techniques for treatment, Tolaney concludes.

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Dr. Tolaney on the Evolution of Treatment in HER2+ Breast Cancer - OncLive