A plain language summary of quality of life with sacituzumab govitecan treatment in the TROPiCS-02 study in participants with breast cancer (HR-positive/HER2-negative)

What is this summary about? This is a summary about the TROPiCS-02 trial, which was a study of a drug called sacituzumab govitecan (brand name: TRODELVY®) used for the treatment of breast cancer. The most common type of breast cancer is called HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer. HR-positive means the cancer cells have receptors for hormones like estrogen or progesterone, which can influence cancer cell growth. HER2-negative means the cancer cells have very little or no human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which affects cancer cell growth and spread. Sacituzumab govitecan was shown to be effective in treating HR-positive/HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Advanced cancer means the cancer came back in breast tissue or nearby lymph nodes after earlier treatment.Metastatic breast cancer is breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. The TROPiCS-02 study was a clinical trial where 776 participants with confirmed HR-positive/HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive sacituzumab govitecan or standard chemotherapy. The TROPiCS-02 study showed that participants treated with sacituzumab govitecan lived significantly longer than those treated with standard chemotherapy. They also had significantly longer time before their cancer became worse. Here, we will summarize quality of life as reported by participants in the TROPiCS-02 study. Information about quality of life may be important for people with cancer and their doctors to determine if a particular treatment is the right choice for them. What were the results? Participants treated with sacituzumab govitecan reported better overall quality of life than participants treated with chemotherapy. Their quality of life also stayed better for significantlylonger. Participants treated with sacituzumab govitecan had better physical functioning and were less likely to experience shortness of breath based on overall changes in their quality of life. However, they were more likely to experience diarrhea and hair loss than participants treated with chemotherapy. What do the results of the study mean? Participants who received sacituzumab govitecan reported significantly better health outcomes overall compared to those treated with chemotherapy. In addition to living longer and having more time before their cancer became worse, participants reported better quality of life that lasted a longer time before becoming worse. Many participants did experience some medical events, such as diarrhea and hair loss, which were consistent with peoples’ experiences in previous studies of sacituzumab govitecan. Medical events may be related to treatment (side effects), or they may be unrelated issues that happen to occur during treatment. These events can be managed as part of a person’s treatment using established guidelines. Based on all of these results,sacituzumab govitecan may be a good treatment option to maintain a person’s feeling of well-being and ability to perform normal activities for people with HR-positive/HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer.