A recent study published in Nature Communications offers an in-depth genomic characterisation of HER2-enriched (HER2E) breast cancer, providing valuable insights that could inform more effective, personalised treatment strategies for patients with this aggressive subtype.
Utilising the HRDetect classifier, they identified tumours exhibiting genomic profiles indicative of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). This finding suggests that a subset of HER2E breast cancers may share molecular features with other HRD-associated cancers, such as those with BRCA1/2 mutations.
The identification of HRD in HER2E tumours has significant clinical implications. HRD-positive cancers are known to respond favourably to treatments like PARP inhibitors and platinum-based chemotherapies. Therefore, patients with HER2E, HRD-positive tumours might benefit from these targeted therapies, potentially improving outcomes in this patient population.
This study underscores the importance of genomic profiling in breast cancer, highlighting the potential for tailored treatment approaches based on the unique molecular characteristics of each tumour. As the field of oncology continues to advance, integrating genomic data into clinical decision-making will be crucial for optimising patient care and developing more effective therapeutic strategies.
Paper: Hohmann, L., Sigurjonsdottir, K., Campos, A.B. et al. Genomic characterization of the HER2-enriched intrinsic molecular subtype in primary ER-positive HER2-negative breast cancer. Nature Communications. 16, 2208 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57419-z.
