CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNITY MATTERS
“ This study shows how understanding resistance can lead to better, smarter treatments.
~ Dr. Jangsoon Lee, UH Cancer Center Associate Researcher
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Breakthrough Research Offers New Hope for Aggressive HER2-positive Breast Cancer
Anew study from the University of Hawai‘ i Cancer Center reveals a way to outsmart treatment-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer— a fast-growing and aggressive form of the disease affecting 15 – 20 % of patients.
The research, led by Associate Researcher Jangsoon Lee and UH Cancer Center Director Dr. Naoto Ueno, was recently published in the Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research. The team studied a medication called trastuzumab deruxtecan( T-DXd), a powerful drug currently used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer. While T-DXd has shown strong effectiveness in clinical trials and early use, researchers anticipate that some patients will eventually develop resistance, a persistent challenge in cancer treatment.
“ This gives us a new strategy to keep the treatment working longer and more effectively,” said Dr. Ueno.“ It opens the door to better outcomes for patients facing limited options.”
Clinical trials testing the same concept of combination are already underway to evaluate its effectiveness in real-world settings. If successful, the therapy could mark a major advancement for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.“ This study shows how understanding resistance can lead to better, smarter treatments,” added Dr. Lee.
UH Cancer Center researchers continue to lead innovative research aimed at improving cancer care for Hawai‘ i and the Pacific region.
The scientists uncovered how cancer cells survive treatment by activating internal repair mechanisms to fix the damage caused by T-DXd. By introducing a second drug, elimusertib, they were able to block this repair system. When used in combination, the two drugs significantly improved cancer cell destruction.
Jangsoon Lee, PhD, Associate Member in the Cancer Biology Program
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