Welcome to the first episode of 2026! Join host Victoria Goldberg in conversation with Dr. Francisco Esteva, a prominent board-certified medical oncologist specializing in the research and treatment of breast cancer, Chief of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, and Professor of Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, as they dive deep into the groundbreaking research presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

In this comprehensive discussion, Dr. Esteva shares his expert insights on the latest advances transforming metastatic breast cancer treatment across all subtypes:

HER2-Positive Disease:

• DESTINY-BREAST09 approval: trastuzumab deruxtecan plus pertuzumab as the new first-line standard with unprecedented 40-month progression-free survival
• HER2CLIMB-05: Tukatinib's promise for preventing brain metastases
• PATINA trial: Adding CDK4/6 inhibitors to maintenance therapy
• The evolution from CLEOPATRA to combination approaches

Hormone Receptor-Positive Disease:

• Oral SERDs revolutionizing treatment: imlunestrant, elacestrant, and camizestrant
• SERENA-6 trial: Using liquid biopsies to detect ESR1 mutations and switch therapy before radiographic progression
• Personalized treatment strategies based on molecular profiling

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer:

• Sacituzumab govitecan establishing itself as the preferred first-line option
• Combining antibody drug conjugates with immunotherapy
• Expanding HER2-targeted therapy to HER2-low and HER2-ultralow patients

Dr. Esteva also discusses the role of artificial intelligence in pathology, the importance of real-world evidence, and how treatment personalization is becoming the cornerstone of modern oncology. From his early work on trastuzumab and the PI3K pathway to today's cutting-edge ADCs, Dr. Esteva provides both historical context and forward-looking perspectives on where the field is headed.

Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this episode offers valuable insights into how 2025 is shaping up to be a year of continued innovation and hope in metastatic breast cancer treatment.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare team about your specific treatment options.

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Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.