New Protocol: Tucatinib with Trastuzumab Emtansine for her2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

In the HER2CLIMB-02 trial, the addition of tucatinib to T-DM1 improved progression-free survival among patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, showing an increase from 7.4 to 9.5 months. The regimen was associated with higher rates of liver enzyme elevations but was overall manageable. The overall survival results were immature.

  • Study

    Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial [HER2CLIMB-02]
    Previously treated HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer
    Tucatinib plus T-DM1 (n=228) vs placebo plus T-DM1 (n=235)



  • Efficacy

    ORR: 42% vs 36%
    mPFS: 9.5 mos vs 7.4 mos (HR 0.76 [0.61-0.95])
    mOS: Not reached vs 38.0 mos (HR 1.23 [0.87-1.74])



  • Safety

    Grade >=3 AEs: 68.8% vs 41.2%
    AST increased (16.5% vs 2.6%), ALT increased (16.5% vs 2.6%)
    TEAEs leading to discontinuation: 22.1% vs 11.6%


  • Ann Oncol. Published online 2025.

    Hurvitz SA, Loi S, O’Shaughnessy J New Protocol: Tucatinib with Trastuzumab Emtansine for her2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

    http://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2025.11.005

    Reviewed by Ulas D. Bayraktar, MD on Dec 8, 2025

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