July Breast Cancer Highlights: Top 5 Updates Patients Should Know

As July approaches, several recent developments underscore how quickly the breast cancer treatment landscape continues to evolve. Insights shared at meetings and in recent expert interviews highlight meaningful advances in metastatic disease, expanding treatment options and deepening patient engagement through education and awareness.

From targeted therapies like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) redefining how chemotherapy is delivered, to new treatment combinations showing potential in the first-line metastatic setting, progress is reshaping clinical practice.

Experts like Dr. Erika Hamilton emphasize the importance of staying informed as breast cancer care grows more personalized. From hormone therapies to genomic testing, these evolving tools and approaches are giving patients and clinicians renewed hope for longer, more manageable outcomes.

Read more about the latest updates below!

Staying Informed on the Latest Breast Cancer Treatments

Breast cancer treatment is advancing at a quick pace, according to Dr. Erika Hamilton, a board-certified medical oncologist and director of Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute. In an interview with CURE, she emphasized that staying informed can be challenging, but resources such as social media platforms and updated clinical guidelines can help both clinicians and patients keep up with the latest developments.

“The field is moving really fast.... some things like guidelines, you know, following the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) guidelines or the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines can help us stay up to date, and help our patients stay up to date about what's new and how things are changing,” Hamilton explained when asked for some of the best ways clinicians and patients can stay up-to-date with the latest advances.

Hamilton also notes that breast cancer care has changed significantly over the past decade, with new therapies not only emerging but also being incorporated earlier in treatment lines when shown to benefit patients with metastatic disease. She encourages patients to remain optimistic, as ongoing progress continues to improve both outcomes and quality of life.

New Treatment Combo Receives FDA Recognition in Metastatic Breast Cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted breakthrough therapy designation to the combination of Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) and Perjeta (pertuzumab) as a first-line treatment for unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, based on results from the phase 3 DESTINY-Breast09 trial.

Data presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting demonstrated a median progression-free survival of 40.7 months with the Enhertu and Perjeta combination, compared to 26.9 months with the current standard of care. This marks the ninth breakthrough therapy designation for Enhertu, five of which are for various forms of metastatic breast cancer.

According to study author Dr. Sara Tolaney, the combination nearly doubled progression-free survival and could represent a new standard in the first-line setting for patients with HER2-positive metastatic disease.

“The combination of [Enhertu] and Perjeta, as we saw in DESTINY-Breast09, [nearly] doubled progression-free survival [for patients]. Therefore, I think [this treatment] does present a really nice new potential first-line therapy option for patients if they're newly diagnosed with metastatic HER2-positive positive breast cancer,” Dr. Sara M. Tolaney, DESTINY-Breast09 study author, explained in an interview with CURE.

Tolaney is a senior physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the chief of the Division of Breast Oncology at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers, where she also serves as the associate director. Additionally, she is an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, located in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Given these very significant improvements in progression-free survival, I believe Enhertu and Perjeta could be a new potential first-line treatment option for patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer,” she concluded in the interview.

Redefining Chemo With ADCs in Breast Cancer

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are reshaping breast cancer treatment by delivering chemotherapy directly to tumor cells, improving precision and reducing systemic exposure. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which disperses quickly throughout the body, ADCs use targeted antibodies to bind to cancer cells and release chemotherapy within them. This approach not only enhances drug activity but also prolongs its circulation, potentially reactivating the immune system against the tumor.

“ADCs take chemotherapy to the next level. They basically deliver it in a targeted way... The ADC can internalize and deliver the chemotherapy into the tumor cell. At the same time, it also acts as a reservoir of chemotherapy,” Dr. Paolo Tarantino explained when asked what makes ADCs different from traditional chemotherapy.

Tarantino is a breast medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, both located in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as a clinical researcher at the European Institute of Oncology, in Milan, Italy.

He concludes by saying that ADCs are multifaceted therapies with mechanisms that are still being uncovered, but their growing clinical impact suggests a promising future across various stages of breast cancer.

Breaking Down Current Treatment Options in Metastatic Breast Cancer

For patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, understanding available treatment options is essential. This type of therapy works by blocking or lowering hormone levels to slow cancer growth and often begins with a CDK4/6 inhibitor combined with an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant. Over time, resistance may develop, requiring a switch to alternative hormone therapies, often paired with targeted agents based on new genetic alterations identified through genomic testing, such as liquid biopsy.

Following a CURE Educated Patient® Updates event, Drs. Alicia Arnold and Priyanka Raval of the Georgia Cancer Center emphasized the importance of patient education.

“The biggest takeaway, which really excited me, was that [stage 4] breast cancer will almost be like a chronic condition that's managed like diabetes…or high blood pressure that can be controlled over a long period of time… I felt that the patients really benefited from hearing that,” Arnold said to CURE.

Moreover, the pair went on to highlight the need for ongoing monitoring, the misconception that surgery such as mastectomy is always curative, and the evolving role of genomic testing in guiding treatment. Importantly, they encouraged patients to view stage 4 breast cancer as a manageable chronic condition and to actively engage in their care by asking informed questions.

A Shift in Perspective: A Daughter’s Journey Through Her Mother’s Breast Cancer

A recent blog post written by Robyn Quesada offers a deeply moving reflection on how her perspective of her mother’s cancer journey evolved over time. The piece captures the emotional complexity of watching a parent undergo breast cancer treatment, especially through the eyes of a child, and the lasting impact it leaves decades later.

The author shares how, at age 12, she struggled to understand her mother’s diagnosis and reacted with embarrassment to the visible effects of treatment, such as hair loss and surgical changes. Over 25 years later, as a mother herself, she now views those same moments through a lens of admiration.

With raw honesty and heartfelt reflection, the blog serves as a powerful reminder of how empathy deepens with time, and how memories once colored by confusion can eventually be honored with clarity and love.

References

1. “ENHERTU® Plus Pertuzumab Granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation in the U.S. as First-Line Therapy for Patients with HER2 Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer.” News Release. Daiichi Sankyo.
2. “Trastuzumab deruxtecan plus Perjeta versus standard therapy for first-line HER2-positive advanced breast cancer” by Dr. Sara Tolaney, et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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