A comprehensive review of biomarker-based therapies for hormone receptor-positive and HER2-low breast cancer: clinical pharmacists' implications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20261129Keywords:
Breast cancer, HER2-negative, Inavolisib, Datopotamab deruxtecan, ImlunestrantAbstract
The purpose of this review is to outline the role of clinical pharmacist's in implementing precision oncology and to synthesize current evidence on biomarker-driven targeted therapies in metastatic breast cancer delivers significant regulatory approvals from 2024 to 2025. A thorough literature search was carried out using Scopus, PubMed and conference materials from the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Breast neoplasms, molecular targeted therapy, PIK3CA, ESR1, Trop-2, and clinical pharmacy were among the most important search terms. Phase III randomized controlled trials and recent notifications derived from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were top prioritized during the selection process. From empirical hormonal blockade to a important molecular taxonomy, the therapy of hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative metastatic breast cancer has changed. Management of hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer shows differentiated from empirical hormonal blockade to a precise molecular taxonomy. In "HER2-low" illness, which is characterized as IHC 1+ or 2+ with ISH negative, trastuzumab and deruxtecan significantly improved results. Furthermore, the approval of inavolisib, datopotamab deruxtecan, and imlunestrant in 2024–2025 marks a regulatory turning point in HR-positive illness. The pharmacists must monitor these drugs closely as they have improved progression-free survival, but they also have some side effects, such as hyperglycemia, stomatitis, and ILD. Biomarker-driven therapy is the benchmark synonym for metastatic breast carcinoma with hormone receptor positivity and low HER2 expression. Biomarker-driven therapy is the current evidence-based practice standard for metastatic hormone receptor-positive and HER2-low breast cancer. Clinical pharmacists play a crucial role in the successful implementation of these complex regimens because they must manage diagnostic stewardship, treatment sequencing, and specific adverse effects to ensure complete patient safety.
References
Harbeck N, Gnant M. Breast cancer. Lancet. 2017;389(10074):1134-50.
Mosele F, Stefanovska B, Lusque A. Outcome and molecular landscape of patients with PIK3CA-mutated metastatic breast cancer. Ann Oncol. 2020;31(3):377-86.
Holle LM, Segal EM, Jeffers KD. The expanding role of the oncology pharmacist. Pharmacy (Basel). 2020;8(3):130.
Wang Y, McTaggart S, Haywood A. Pharmacist’s role in breast cancer management: a scoping review. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2022;28(4):890-8.
Modi S, Jacot W, Yamashita T, et al. Trastuzumab deruxtecan in previously treated HER2-low advanced breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(1):9-20.
Ogitani Y, Hagihara K, Omate J. Bystander killing effect of DS-8201a, a novel anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 antibody-drug conjugate, in tumors with HER2 heterogeneity. Cancer Sci. 2016;107(7):1039-46.
Fernandez AI, Liu M, Bellizzi A. Examination of low HER2 protein expression in breast cancer clinicopathologic features and interobserver concordance. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2022;146(4):439-47.
Powell CA, Modi S, Iwata H. Pooled analysis of drug-related interstitial lung disease and/or pneumonitis in nine trastuzumab deruxtecan monotherapy studies. ESMO Open. 2022;7(4):100554.
ESMO Guidelines Committee. Multidisciplinary clinical guidelines in proactive monitoring, early diagnosis, and effective management of trastuzumab deruxtecan-induced interstitial lung disease. ESMO Open. 2023;8(6):102043.
Rugo HS, Bartsch R, Cortes J. QOL and updated safety of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer from DESTINY-Breast04. J Clin Oncol. 2023;41(16):1018.
Bardia A, Jhaveri K, Im SA. Datopotamab deruxtecan vs chemotherapy for pretreated ER+, HER2- breast cancer (TROPION-Breast01). J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(17): LBA1000.
Meric-Bernstam F, Bardia A, Bossi P. Prophylaxis and clinical management of datopotamab deruxtecan-associated stomatitis. ESMO Open. 2024;9(1):102062.
Rugo HS, Seneviratne L, Beck JT. Prevention of everolimus-related stomatitis in women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer using dexamethasone mouthwash (SWISH): a single-arm phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2017;18(5):654-62.
Abelman RO, Spring L, Bardia A. Sequential use of antibody-drug conjugates in breast cancer. Curr Oncol Rep. 2023;25(5):451-60.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves inavolisib with palbociclib and fulvestrant for endocrine-resistant, PIK3CA-mutated, HR-positive, HER2-negative, advanced breast cancer. FDA.gov. 2024. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-inavolisib-palbociclib-and-fulvestrant-endocrine-resistant-pik3ca-mutated-hr-positive. Accessed 01 December 2025.
Turner NC, Jhaveri K, Kalinsky K. Inavolisib-based therapy in PIK3CA-mutated advanced breast cancer (INAVO120). N Engl J Med. 2024;391(17):1584-96.
Nader-Marta G, Tolaney SM, Mayer EL. Inavolisib-based triplet therapy for PIK3CA-mutated hormone receptor+/HER2- breast cancer: clinical implications and practical considerations. JCO Oncol Adv. 2024;2(1):e2500041.
Jhaveri KL, Neven P, Casalnuovo ML. Imlunestrant, an oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), as monotherapy and combined with abemaciclib, for patients with ER+, HER2- advanced breast cancer (ABC): results of the phase 3 EMBER-3 trial. Ann Oncol. 2024;35(2):S1-S1338.
Bidard FC, Kaklamani VG, Neven P. Elacestrant (oral selective estrogen receptor degrader) versus standard endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer: results from the phase 3 EMERALD trial. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(28):3246-56.
Turner NC, Swift C, Jenkins B. Circulating tumor DNA analysis to direct therapy in advanced breast cancer (plasmaMATCH): a multicentre, multicohort, open-label, phase 2a platform trial. Lancet Oncol. 2020;21(10):1296-308.
Desai A, Gyawali B. Financial toxicity of cancer treatment: moving the needle from multiple problems to potential solutions. JCO Oncol Pract. 2020;16(5):261-3.