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Breast cancer

Pyrotinib in combination with first-line trastuzumab and docetaxel for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: a new therapeutic option?

Recent results from the phase III PHILA trial demonstrate a benefit in terms of progression-free survival derived from the addition of pyrotinib to first-line chemotherapy plus trastuzumab in patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. Dual HER2 blockade with pyrotinib and trastuzumab is an effective therapeutic strategy but might increase the risk of gastrointestinal toxicity; therefore, the risk-to-benefit ratio should be carefully evaluated.

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Correspondence to Giuseppe Curigliano.

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Competing interests

G.C. has received honoraria for speaker’s engagement from Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Celltrion, Foundation Medicine, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, NanoString, Roche, Samsung and Seattle Genetics; for consultancy roles from NanoString, Roche and Seattle Genetics; for participating in advisory boards from Celltrion, Foundation Medicine, Lilly, Mylan, Pfizer, Roche and Samsung; for writing engagement from BMS and Novartis; and for participation in the Ellipsis Scientific Affairs Group. G.C. also reports institutional research funding for conducting phase I and II clinical trials from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS, Celgene, Janssen-Cilag, Medimmune, Medivation, Merck Serono, MSD, Novartis, Orion, Pfizer, Philogen, Roche, Sanofi, Seattle Genetics, Servier and Tesaro. G.C. also declares non-financial interests with the Italian National Health Council as Advisor for Ministry of Health, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) as Clinical Practice Guidelines Chair, Europa Donna as Member of the Scientific Council, the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) as a member of the Advisory Council and Fondazione Beretta. All of these competing interests were outside the submitted work. P.P.M.B.G. declares no competing interests.

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Berton Giachetti, P.P.M., Curigliano, G. Pyrotinib in combination with first-line trastuzumab and docetaxel for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: a new therapeutic option?. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 21, 171–172 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41571-023-00854-y

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