Real-World Evaluation of Trastuzumab Emtansine Biosimilar in Early-Stage HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Results from a Single-Centre retrospective Study in India Real-World outcomes of T-DM1 Biosimilar

Kaushalkumar Kaushal (1), Vipulkumar Thummar (2), Priya Mehta (3)
(1) Department of Medical Oncology, Sunshine Global Hospital, Surat, India, India,
(2) Medical Affairs, Zydus Lifesciences, Ahmedabad, India, India,
(3) Medical Affairs, Zydus Lifesciences, Ahmedabad, India, India

Abstract

Background: Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), an antibody–drug conjugate targeting HER2, is an established adjuvant therapy for residual invasive HER2-positive breast cancer after neoadjuvant treatment. Real-world evidence on trastuzumab emtansine biosimilars in early-stage disease is limited. This study evaluated invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) and safety outcomes with a trastuzumab emtansine biosimilar in routine practice.


Methods: This retrospective, single-centre observational study include 24 women with stage II/III HER2-positive breast cancer who received adjuvant trastuzumab emtansine biosimilar (3.6 mg/kg every 21 days) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. The primary endpoint was IDFS; secondary endpoints were relapse patterns and treatment-emergent adverse events.


Results: Median age was 60.3 years; 83.3% were postmenopausal. At diagnosis, 20.8% had stage II and 79.2% had stage III disease. With a median follow-up of 14 months, five IDFS events occurred and no deaths were reported. Median IDFS was 14 months (95% CI: 13–15) and should be interpreted descriptively due to few events and short follow-up. Relapse occurred in 20.8%, most commonly in bone, brain, and liver. Common adverse events were thrombocytopenia (95.8%), neutropenia (79.2%), and anaemia (41.7%), predominantly grade 1–2. Left ventricular ejection fraction declined to <50% in 20.8%.


Conclusion: Adjuvant trastuzumab emtansine biosimilar use was feasible with a manageable safety profile in this single-centre real-world cohort. Efficacy findings are exploratory and require confirmation in larger prospective studies.

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Authors

Kaushalkumar Kaushal
Kpatel291980@yahoo.com (Primary Contact)
Vipulkumar Thummar
Priya Mehta
1.
Kaushal K, Thummar V, Mehta P. Real-World Evaluation of Trastuzumab Emtansine Biosimilar in Early-Stage HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Results from a Single-Centre retrospective Study in India: Real-World outcomes of T-DM1 Biosimilar . Arch Breast Cancer [Internet]. [cited 2026 Mar. 31];13(2). Available from: https://archbreastcancer.com/index.php/abc/article/view/1241

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