Third-line treatment patterns in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: a retrospective analysis of real-world data in Canada

Abstract

There is an increasing demand for real-world data pertaining to the usage of cancer treatments, especially in settings where no standard treatment is specifically recommended. This study presents the first real-world analysis of third-line treatment patterns in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients in Canada. The purpose was to assess evolution of clinical practice and identify unmet needs in post-second-line therapy. Retrospective data from medical records of 66 patients who received third-line treatment before 31st October 2018, and data from 56 patients who received third-line treatment after this date, extracted from the Personalize My Treatment (PMT) cancer patient registry, were analyzed. In the first cohort, the study revealed heterogeneity in the third-line setting, with trastuzumab, lapatinib, and T-DM1 being the main treatment options. Even though data were collected before the wide availability of tucatinib, neratinib and trastuzumab deruxtecan in Canada, the PMT cohort revealed the emergence of new therapeutic combinations and a shift from lapatinib usage to T-DM1 choice was observed. These findings underscore the evolving nature of third-line treatment strategies in Canada, a facet that is intrinsically tied to the availability of new drugs. The absence of a consensus on post-second-line treatment highlights the pressing need for more efficient therapeutic alternatives beyond the currently available options. This study not only offers valuable insights into the present landscape of third-line treatment in Canada but validates the significance and effectiveness of the PMT registry as a tool for generating pan-Canadian real-world evidence in oncology and its capacity to provide information on evolution of therapeutic practices.

Keywords: Canada; HER2+ metastatic breast cancer; PMT registry; real-world data; real-world evidence; the exactis network; treatment landscape.