Breast Cancer Drug Enhertu May Help Women With Newly Identified Category of Breast Cancer
The cancer drug Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan, or T-DXd) given before breast cancer surgery showed activity in patients with a newly identified subtype of disease known as HER2-low breast cancer, according to a study presented at the recent San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the largest annual conference on breast cancer.Human growth receptor, abbreviated as HER2, is found on the surface of breast cancer cells. It’s presence in high or low amounts suggests how responsive the tumor will be to certain treatments. In the past, HER2 status was based upon a score, with a number 3 or above indicating HER2-positive disease, which is known to be more aggressive and difficult to treat. A score below 3 was categorized as HER2-negative disease.More recently a new breast cancer subtype has been identified: HER2-low disease. This category includes…