A recent study has shown promising results for a new treatment approach for advanced triple-negative breast cancer. The combination of Trodelvy, an antibody-drug conjugate, and Merck’s immunotherapy Keytruda has been found to significantly reduce the risk of cancer progression by 35%. This finding was presented during a large trial at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago.
In the trial, patients who received the Trodelvy and Keytruda combination experienced a median of 11.2 months without their cancer worsening, known as progression-free survival (PFS). In contrast, those treated with standard chemotherapy alongside Keytruda had a PFS of just 7.8 months. This suggests that the new combination could offer a more effective first-line treatment option for patients diagnosed with this aggressive form of breast cancer.
The study included 443 patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1, the target for Keytruda. After a median follow-up of 14 months, researchers noted that patients on the new regimen responded for an average of 16.5 months, compared to 9.2 months for those receiving chemotherapy. Experts believe these results could lead to a shift in treatment standards for advanced triple-negative breast cancer.
Dr. Jane Lowe Meisel, a co-director of breast oncology at Emory University, indicated that this combination is likely to become the new standard of care for patients in this situation. Currently, about 10% of breast cancers in the U.S. are classified as triple-negative, which are often more challenging to treat due to their lack of common biomarkers.
Trodelvy is already approved for patients who have undergone two or more prior therapies for advanced triple-negative breast cancer, as well as for those with hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. Gilead, the company behind Trodelvy, is also exploring additional studies, including one for patients who do not express PD-L1.
While the trial results are encouraging, some serious side effects were reported. Neutropenia, which affects white blood cell counts, was observed in 43% of patients taking Trodelvy, and diarrhea occurred in 10%. In the chemotherapy group, 45% experienced neutropenia, along with other issues like anemia and low blood platelet counts.
These findings highlight a potential new direction in treating a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer, offering hope for improved outcomes for patients facing this difficult diagnosis.