New Clinical Trial Shows Tucatinib Substantially Delays Progression of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer with Brain Metastasis

A national clinical trial, led by a Duke University School of Medicine researcher, has demonstrated that adding the drug tucatinib to standard care for patients with new brain metastasis of HER2-positive breast cancer significantly delayed disease progression. Historically, patients experienced worsening of brain cancer within six months or less. In this trial, over half of the 47 patients had no worsening after a 19.6-month follow-up, and 46 out of 47 patients were still alive at this mark. Researchers are approaching the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) to request guideline changes based on these findings, as tucatinib is already available in clinics and crosses the blood-brain barrier.