IntroductionIn the field of breast cancer treatment, antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) are gradually becoming an important therapeutic approach.ADC drugs are a new type of cancer treatment that combines the targeting capability of antibodies with the potent killing power of chemotherapy drugs, allowing for precise delivery of chemotherapy agents to cancer cells, thereby improving efficacy and reducing side effects. This innovative treatment method brings new hope to many cancer patients.Shengnuo Yijia
Source: Shetu Network
1
What ADC Drugs Are Currently Available for Breast Cancer Patients? 01T-DM1
Trastuzumab Emtansine
Brand Name: Kadcyla
Indication: HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, especially in patients who have previously received trastuzumab (Herceptin) and a taxane.
Note: HER2 is a protein receptor located on the cell surface that is involved in regulating cell growth, division, and repair. HER2-positive indicates that there is a large amount of HER2 protein on the surface of cancer cells. HER2-positive breast cancer is a specific type of breast cancer that typically grows faster, is more aggressive, and is more likely to recur and metastasize.
T-DM1 is a highly anticipated ADC drug that has demonstrated significant efficacy in the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
T-DM1 combines the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab with the potent chemotherapy drug DM1, allowing for the precise delivery of chemotherapy to HER2-positive cancer cells, maximizing efficacy while minimizing side effects.
According to data from the Phase III EMILIA trial: compared to chemotherapy, T-DM1 significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), while having fewer side effects.
Note: Progression-free survival (PFS) refers to the time from the start of treatment until disease progression. In cancer treatment, PFS is an important indicator of treatment effectiveness, reflecting how well the treatment delays disease progression. In clinical trials, if a new therapy can significantly extend PFS, it suggests that this therapy may be more effective than existing treatments in controlling the disease.02Trodelvy
Sacituzumab Govitecan
Indication: Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), particularly those who have previously received two or more systemic therapies.
Dr. Aditya Bardia, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Breast Cancer Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, provided a detailed explanation of Trodelvy during the Shengnuo Global Expert Series live broadcast on October 17, 2023.
Shengnuo Yijia
Source: Shetu Network
Trodelvy targets TROP-2, which is widely expressed in triple-negative breast cancer and serves as an excellent target for ADC drugs.
Trodelvy has three main characteristics: first, it carries more chemotherapy agents, thus enhancing efficacy; second, it not only enters tumor cells but also releases chemotherapy in the surrounding fluid, enhancing the therapeutic effect; third, since it still carries chemotherapy agents, it also has side effects.
For patients with recurrent or refractory metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, there have previously been no effective drugs, and there is no standardized chemotherapy regimen available. Some available chemotherapies are effective for only a short time, often developing resistance within 1-2 months. Additionally, this type of cancer is prone to multiple metastases, including brain metastasis, making it very difficult to manage.
Therefore, Trodelvy is a timely aid for triple-negative breast cancer patients.
Clinical data shows that compared to chemotherapy, Trodelvy exhibits significant advantages across multiple metrics, benefiting patients greatly.
In addition to triple-negative breast cancer, other types of breast cancer patients can also benefit from Trodelvy, such as hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer patients with TROP-2 expression.
03T-DxdT-Dxd
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan
Brand Name: Enhertu, also known as DS-8201
Indication: HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, particularly in patients who have previously received two or more anti-HER2 treatments.
T-Dxd targets HER2, combining the anti-HER2 antibody with chemotherapy, allowing for the precise delivery of chemotherapy to HER2-positive cancer cells, effectively killing HER2-positive cancer cells while minimizing damage to normal cells.
Dr. Aditya Bardia stated that the main advantage of T-Dxd is its excellent cytotoxicity, with relatively fewer side effects, enhancing treatment efficacy while reducing adverse effects.
T-Dxd is highly effective for HER2-positive breast cancer and also demonstrates good efficacy against tumors with low HER2 expression.
Clinical data indicates that T-Dxd shows significant advantages over chemotherapy in multiple metrics, greatly benefiting patients.
2
Which New ADC Drugs for Breast Cancer Are Worth Anticipating?Shengnuo Yijia
Source: Shetu Network
Dr. Aditya Bardia mentioned two new ADC drugs that, although still in clinical trials, have shown promising preliminary efficacy against breast cancer.
01Dato-DXd
Datopotamab Deruxtecan, also known as DS-1062
Dato-DXd also targets TROP2 and belongs to the same research and development technology platform as T-Dxd, hence it shares similar advantages. Ongoing clinical studies have shown that Dato-DXd has significant efficacy against various cancer types, including breast cancer.
In early clinical studies, Dato-DXd at different dose levels was able to shrink tumors in patients with triple-negative breast cancer, indicating great potential.
Additionally, some other clinical trial results indicate that Dato-DXd can still produce good efficacy in patients with cancers that have previously been unresponsive to multiple treatments.
02U3-1402U3-1402
Brand Name: Patritumab Deruxtecan
U3-1402 targets HER3, combining the anti-HER3 antibody with a potent chemotherapy drug, and aims to treat breast cancer by targeting the expression of HER3 protein, primarily used for HER3-positive breast cancer patients, especially those unresponsive to other therapies.
Note: HER3-positive breast cancer is a type of breast cancer characterized by excessive expression of HER3 protein on the surface of cancer cells. Specific targeted therapies against HER3 are currently under investigation, with some already in clinical trial phases.
Although U3-1402 is still in clinical trials, preliminary results indicate its tremendous potential in breast cancer treatment.
Dr. Aditya Bardia stated that U3-1402 is effective for hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative, triple-negative breast cancer, and HER3-positive breast cancer with two positive HER2 markers.
Shengnuo Yijia
Source: Shetu Network
Conclusion
ADC drugs provide new treatment hope for breast cancer patients. With continuous advancements in medical research and the development of new drugs, ADC drugs are expected to play a larger role in breast cancer treatment, helping more patients overcome cancer.
Dr. Aditya Bardia also mentioned that perhaps in the near future, with the flourishing development of ADC drugs, such medications will replace existing conventional chemotherapy, providing patients with better prognoses.
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