The FDA has approved sacituzumab govitecan, also known as Trodelvy, for the treatment of advanced hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, which is a significant development for cancer patients. This most recent clearance broadens the drug’s application because it was previously approved for triple-negative breast tumors.
The most common subtype of breast cancer, HR-positive/HER2-negative tumors, affects many people. Nearly all patients with this type of cancer survive for at least five years when diagnosed early, and over 90% of them do so when the tumors have just migrated to adjacent tissues. Only around 32% of patients with tumors that have migrated to distant tissues and organs have a good chance of surviving five years following diagnosis.
For individuals dealing with this severe form of cancer, Trodelvy gives fresh hope. The medication, created by Gilead Sciences, is intended to treat advanced HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer patients whose tumors cannot be completely removed by surgery and have not responded to prior chemo or endocrine therapies.
Trodelvy, according to breast cancer researcher Dr. Kiven Erique Lukong, will be a game-changer for patients who have tried every other form of treatment. The medication may help some people live longer, enhance their quality of life, reduce symptoms, and decrease the growth of tumors.
Hope Rugo, a professor of medicine and the director of breast oncology, notes that patients frequently exhaust all available therapeutic alternatives before they are prepared to discontinue medication. With Trodelvy’s approval, these patients now have a potential option that enables them to continue their medication and live well.
Trodelvy is a member of a group of drugs known as antibody-drug conjugates that combines an anti-cancer treatment with an antibody that targets immune system antigens, a critical component in several cancer forms.
The TROPiCS-02 trial, which comprised 543 patients with advanced HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer, demonstrated the drug’s effectiveness. Chemotherapy or Trodelvy was administered to participants randomly until side effects became unacceptable or tumor growth started again. According to the preliminary trial findings, participants receiving Trodelvy had a median duration without tumor growth of 5.5 months as opposed to 4 months for those receiving chemotherapy. Regarding tumor progression at six and twelve months, trolley fared better than chemotherapy.
Additionally, the examination of intermediate results as of July 2022 revealed that Trodelvy users survived for a median of 14.4 months, compared to 11.2 months for those receiving chemotherapy. Although all groups suffered adverse effects, Trodelvy users had neutropenia and diarrhea more frequently. The medication is a promising alternative for patients with advanced HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer because the advantages exceed the dangers.
Reference: https://www.targetedonc.com/view/metastatic-tnbc-case-overview
