A landmark multicenter study in China has shown that the antibody‑drug conjugate (ADC) T‑DXd works well for patients with advanced breast cancer, no matter whether their tumors are HER2‑positive or HER2‑low. Among 61 patients, the median time before disease progression was about 10.5 months in both groups. Objective response rates (tumor shrinkage) were 38% for HER2‑low and 63% for HER2‑positive patients, while disease‑control rates exceeded 79% in both groups. Side effects were mostly mild—mainly digestive upset and low‑grade bone‑marrow suppression—with no severe grade‑4 or -5 events reported. The study is the first real‑world assessment of T‑DXd in China and suggests the drug could become a versatile option for advanced breast cancer. In a separate real‑world trial, Chinese researchers combined the home‑grown ADC disitamab vedotin (RC48) with PD‑1 inhibitors to treat metastatic urothelial (bladder) cancer. Out of 63 patients, 71% achieved an objective response and 87% saw disease control, with a median progression‑free survival of 10.5 months. Common side effects included fatigue, anemia, itching, nerve tingling, and nausea, most of which were low‑grade. Together, these findings highlight the expanding reach of ADC therapies beyond breast cancer and underscore China’s growing role in cutting‑edge oncology research.
Read more