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T-DXd and SHR-A1811 show superior progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy plus TKI in HER2-positive breast cancerNew data shows specific drugs improve survival in advanced breast cancer

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Key Takeaway
Note that T-DXd and SHR-A1811 provide superior PFS and OS compared to Chem + TKI in HER2-positive breast cancer.

This network meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of various HER2-targeting ADCs, including T-DM1, ARX788, A166, SHR-A1811, RC48, DP303c, and T-DXd, in patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer pretreated with trastuzumab or taxane. The analysis compared these agents against a chemotherapy plus tyrosine kinase inhibitor (Chem + TKI) regimen.

Regarding progression-free survival (PFS), T-DXd showed the most favorable results (HR = 0.18; 95%CI: 0.13-0.25), followed by SHR-A1811 (HR = 0.22; 95%CI: 0.15-0.33). For overall survival (OS), SHR-A1811 showed a promising signal (HR = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.14-0.69) and T-DXd showed favorable results (HR = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.26-0.66) compared to the Chem + TKI control.

Safety profiles varied among the agents. T-DXd exhibited the highest odds for all-grade treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) compared to all other treatments, with statistically significant differences noted against T-DM1 and Chem + TKI. Conversely, T-DM1 demonstrated better safety characteristics for grade 3 or higher TRAEs, with significantly lower odds of occurrence than SHR-A1811, ARX788, DP303c, and Chem + TKI. A primary limitation noted is the absence of direct head-to-head trials comparing different ADCs. Clinically, these ADCs significantly improve PFS over Chem + TKI, with T-DXd and SHR-A1811 providing notable survival benefits.

Living with advanced breast cancer is a heavy burden, and finding the right treatment is vital. A large study of over 3,000 patients looked at several HER2-targeting drugs, which are a type of targeted therapy. The goal was to see how these drugs compared to standard chemotherapy combined with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

The results show that these targeted drugs performed much better than the standard chemotherapy combination. Specifically, two drugs, T-DXd and SHR-A1811, stood out for helping patients live longer without their cancer growing. While T-DXd showed the best results for keeping the cancer from progressing, SHR-A1811 also showed a promising signal for overall survival.

However, every treatment comes with trade-offs. For example, T-DXd was linked to more side effects across all levels compared to other options. On the other hand, T-DM1 was found to have a better safety profile regarding severe side effects. Because these drugs were not tested directly against each other in head-to-head trials, your doctor can help determine which specific option fits your unique health needs.

What this means for you:
Specific HER2-targeting drugs like T-DXd and SHR-A1811 show significant survival benefits for advanced breast cancer.

Common questions

Which drugs showed the best results for keeping cancer from progressing?

The study found that T-DXd showed the most favorable progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy plus a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Another drug, SHR-A1811, also showed favorable results for keeping the cancer from progressing.

Are there different safety levels for these treatments?

Yes, safety varies by drug. T-DXd was linked to a higher odds of all-grade side effects compared to other treatments. However, T-DM1 showed better safety characteristics for severe, grade 3 or higher side effects compared to several other options.

How do these drugs compare to standard chemotherapy?

The study found that several HER2-targeting drugs significantly improved progression-free survival over the standard chemotherapy plus tyrosine kinase inhibitor combination. Both T-DXd and SHR-A1811 showed notable survival benefits over that standard treatment.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedSep 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
BackgroundAntibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have become the standard treatment for HER2-positive(HER2+)advanced breast cancer following the failure of trastuzumab or taxane. Nevertheless, there are no direct head-to-head trials comparing different ADCs.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and abstracts from major oncology conferences, and included phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating HER2-targeting ADCs. We conducted a frequentist random-effects NMA, and utilized the P-score to rank the efficacy of included treatments. The outcome indicators include progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs).ResultsSeven RCTs involving 3,160 patients and seven ADCs (T-DM1, ARX788, A166, SHR-A1811, RC48, DP303c and T-DXd) were included in our research. All ADCs showed a significant PFS benefit versus chemotherapy plus tyrosine kinase inhibitor (Chem + TKI). T-DXd showed the most favorable PFS (HR = 0.18, 95%CI: 0.13–0.25), followed by SHR-A1811 (HR = 0.22, 95%CI: 0.15–0.33) compared with Chem + TKI. SHR-A1811 showed a promising OS signal(HR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.14–0.69), followed by T-DXd (HR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.26–0.66) compared with Chem + TKI. For safety, T-DXd exhibited the highest odds for all-grade TRAEs relative to all included control treatments, with statistically significant differences identified when compared with T-DM1 and Chem + TKI., T-DM1 demonstrated better safety characteristics for grade ≥3 TRAEs, with a significantly lower odds of occurrence than SHR-A1811, ARX788, DP303c, and Chem + TKI.ConclusionIncluded anti-HER2 ADCs significantly improve PFS over Chem + TKI, among which T-DXd and SHR-A1811 deliver notable survival benefits. Although T-DXd is associated with a higher odd of all-grade TRAEs and T-DM1 exhibits favourable grade ≥3 safety.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD420251234345, identifier CRD420251234345.
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