An international Phase III clinical trial has opened the door to a possible change in the treatment of advanced triple-negative breast cancer, especially in those patients who are not candidates for a specific type of immunotherapy (PD-L1 immunotherapy). This is the TROPION-Breast02 study, which has shown that the drug datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd), an antibody-drug conjugate, significantly improves survival compared to the standard first-line chemotherapy that was used until now: according to the results, it almost doubles survival.
The results have been published in the scientific journal Annals Oncology and have had a prominent role of the Catalan Institute of Oncology of L’Hospitalet as it has been the center that has contributed the largest number of patients in Spain. This contribution reinforces the institution’s position as a reference center in clinical research in the field of oncology.
A study that addresses a population with few therapeutic options
The results of the TROPION-Breast02 study show a progression-free survival of almost 11 months with the drug DXd, almost doubling that achieved with the current chemotherapy treatment (6 months), as well as a significant improvement in overall survival of almost 24 months compared to 18 months for conventional treatment. It should be noted that this study has made it possible to include patients with early relapse (less than six months free of disease), a subgroup that is often excluded from clinical trials due to its poor prognosis. In this sense, the treatment is especially relevant, as it is aimed at patients with few therapeutic options and with a currently unfavorable prognosis.
“We are facing a scenario in which, until now, chemotherapy was practically the only alternative for these patients. These results may mean a before and after in clinical practice when the drug is available,” says Agostina Stradella, medical oncologist specialising in breast at ICO L’Hospitalet, researcher at IDIBELL and lead author of the study. She adds that participating in studies of this level makes it possible to offer innovative options to patients with triple-negative breast cancer and to generate evidence that can have a global impact once the drug has been approved. “The fact that we have led recruitment in Spain is a recognition of the work of the teams and their commitment to research,” adds Stradella.
With these results, the scientific community hopes that datopotamab deruxtecan can soon be incorporated as a new first-line option for this subgroup of patients, marking a possible paradigm shift in the treatment of advanced triple-negative breast cancer.
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a research centre created in 2004 and specialises in cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine and regenerative medicine. It has a team of more than 1,500 professionals who, from 73 research groups, publish more than 1,400 scientific articles a year. L’IDIBELL is owned by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Health Institute, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the HR Excellence in Research program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).