A 52-year-old woman with locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer undergoes neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. Pathological complete response (pCR) is not achieved. According to the KATHERINE trial, which adjuvant therapy should be offered?
- A Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) ✓
- B Continued trastuzumab alone
- C Pertuzumab + trastuzumab combination
- D Capecitabine monotherapy
Correct answer: A. Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1)
Explanation
The KATHERINE trial demonstrated that patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who have residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy benefit significantly from adjuvant T-DM1 (trastuzumab emtansine) compared to trastuzumab alone, with improved invasive disease-free survival. T-DM1 is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines trastuzumab with the chemotherapy agent emtansine. This is now the standard of care for patients not achieving pCR.
Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.