Neoadjuvant SHR-A1811 Combined With Pertuzumab in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: An Exploratory Clinical Study.

HER2-positive breast cancer is driven by overexpression or amplification of the HER2 receptor, leading to activation of downstream signaling pathways such as MAPK and PI3K/AKT that promote tumor growth and survival. Although dual HER2 blockade with trastuzumab and pertuzumab in combination with chemotherapy has become a standard neoadjuvant treatment, a subset of patients exhibit insufficient tumor response, indicating biological heterogeneity and potential resistance to therapy. Pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant treatment is associated with improved long-term outcomes in HER2-positive breast cancer. Therefore, early identification of patients with suboptimal response and timely treatment modification may represent an effective strategy to improve prognosis. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are designed to selectively deliver cytotoxic agents to tumor cells through antigen-specific targeting. SHR-A1811 is an investigational HER2-directed ADC composed of a humanized anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody linked to a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload via a cleavable linker. Preclinical data have demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in HER2-expressing models, including those with reduced sensitivity to prior HER2-targeted therapies. Emerging clinical evidence supports the antitumor activity and manageable safety profile of SHR-A1811 in HER2-positive breast cancer. Its mechanism of action suggests potential benefit in patients with inadequate response to standard HER2-targeted neoadjuvant regimens. This study is designed to investigate a response-adapted treatment strategy, in which early tumor response is used to guide subsequent therapy selection. By incorporating an alternative HER2-targeted approach for patients with suboptimal response, this study aims to explore strategies to improve treatment efficacy while maintaining an acceptable safety profile. The results of this study are expected to provide evidence to support individualized neoadjuvant treatment strategies for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.