The 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting showcased significant advancements in breast cancer research, particularly focusing on antibody-drug conjugates, HER2-positive treatments, and hormone receptor-positive cancer.

Among the notable studies presented, the ASCENT-04 trial revealed promising data on the combination of sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for frontline treatment of triple-negative breast cancer.

This trial demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival for patients treated with the antibody-drug conjugate sacituzumab in combination with pembrolizumab compared to standard chemotherapy.

Importantly, no new toxicities were reported in the ASCENT-04 trial, which aligns with the known safety profiles of the agents used.

The trial organizers also allowed patients in the control arm to access sacituzumab upon progression, reflecting a commitment to patient care and gratitude for their participation.

Dr. Kevin Kalinsky from the Winship Cancer Institute highlighted other notable trials, including DESTINY-Breast09 and SERENA-6, which presented innovative findings in breast cancer treatment.

DESTINY-Breast09 compared the effectiveness of T-DXd (trastuzumab deruxtecan; Enhertu) plus pertuzumab (Perjeta) against the established CLEOPATRA regimen in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Meanwhile, the SERENA-6 trial investigated switching from aromatase inhibitors to camizestrant upon detection of ESR1 mutations, revealing prolonged progression-free survival but raising concerns about trial design.

This trial also explored the clinical utility of ctDNA testing in frontline hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, raising new considerations for treatment strategies.

Additionally, the inavolisib trial showed improved overall survival in high-risk patients with hormone-refractory disease treated with a triplet regimen, although toxicity management remains a concern.

New data for patients with ER-positive metastatic disease indicated a variety of treatment options that require further study for optimal use.

Overall, the updates from ASCO suggest promising advancements for breast cancer patients, with ongoing research necessary to optimize treatment strategies.