Top Breast Cancer Stories in 2024

Recent advancements in breast cancer care offer significant progress across various fronts, from novel therapeutic approaches to enhanced supportive care and patient advocacy.

CURE compiled a list of the top stories in breast cancer from 2024. The list highlights key developments, including the demonstrated efficacy of chemo-targeted therapies in HER2-positive disease, strategies for lymphedema management and lifestyle integration, the positive impact of treatment on patient-reported outcomes in specific metastatic breast cancer subtypes and more.

Chemo, Targeted Drugs Extremely Efficacious in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

A study presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting offered promising results for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Researchers investigated the impact of presurgical treatment with a combination of paclitaxel, Herceptin (trastuzumab) and Perjeta (pertuzumab) on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). This ctDNA is cancer DNA that can be detected in blood tests. The goal was to see if the disappearance of ctDNA in the blood could predict how well the treatment worked at the time of surgery.

The phase 2 DAPHNe trial revealed that this drug combination was highly effective. In fact, so many patients experienced a complete clearance of ctDNA — meaning no cancer DNA was detectable in their blood — that it was difficult to use ctDNA levels to predict surgical outcomes. This widespread ctDNA clearance occurred even in some patients who still had detectable tumors at the time of surgery, highlighting the treatment's impact.

Balancing A Love of Cats With Lymphedema After Breast Cancer

Contributor Felicia Mitchell spoke about how being diagnosed with breast cancer and experiencing lymphedema, a potential side effect of treatment, can be overwhelming. She explore the challenges faced by breast cancer survivors who are also cat lovers. Owning a cat often involves activities like scooping litter boxes, which can be difficult for those with lymphedema.

Mitchell offers practical tips and strategies to help people continue enjoying the companionship of their feline friends while managing their lymphedema. She emphasizes the importance of open communication with healthcare providers and finding creative solutions to maintain a safe and loving relationship with their cats.

Enhertu Maintains Quality of Life, Slows Pain in HR-Positive/HER2-Low or -Ultralow Metastatic Breast Cancer

For patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-low or -ultralow metastatic breast cancer, Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) has been shown to improve quality of life by reducing declines in physical function, ability to perform daily tasks and pain compared to standard chemotherapy chosen by their doctors (treatment of physician's choice, or TPC). These findings were presented at the 2024 ESMO Congress.

In the DESTINY-Breast06 trial, patient feedback showed that the overall time until worsening of their condition (median time to deterioration) was similar for both Enhertu and standard chemotherapy in both the overall study population and the subgroup with HER2-low disease. However, there were notable differences in specific symptoms. Most significantly, Enhertu delayed the worsening of pain for a median time of 22 months, compared to 6.3 months for standard chemotherapy.

Why Kristen Dahlgren Left NBC To Advocate for Breast Cancer Vaccines

Kristen Dahlgren, a veteran NBC News correspondent and breast cancer survivor, recently left her journalism career to dedicate her efforts to the Cancer Vaccine Coalition (formerly the Pink Eraser Project). This non-profit organization, co-founded by Dahlgren, focuses on advancing the development of breast cancer vaccines.

“When you go on national TV and announce that you're leaving your job so that you can help cure cancer, you never know exactly what the response is going to be,” Dahlgren said. “It's a huge leap of faith. And, you know, if I've learned anything over the past week or so, it's that people are ready for this.”

Trodelvy Is Effective in Real-World Patients With Breast Cancer Subset

Research indicates that Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan) continues to be effective for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Additionally, Enhertu showed promising results in a subgroup of patients with HER2-low disease, even after they had been treated with Trodelvy, suggesting that using these types of targeted therapies sequentially may be beneficial. To ensure the findings are relevant to a broader patient population beyond clinical trial participants, a real-world study was conducted between 2021 and 2023.

A study in JCO Oncology Practice found that for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, the objective response rate was 27.8%, and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.8 months. However, in a subgroup of patients with HER2-low metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who received Enhertu after Trodelvy, the response rate to Enhertu improved to 34.8%, and the median PFS increased to 7 months.

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