What the trial was testing
The DESTINY-CRC02 enrolled 122 patients with colorectal cancer. The study was sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was initial testing (phase 2). Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
38% of patients saw their tumors shrink with the lower dose of trastuzumab deruxtecan.
The Lancet. Oncology · 2024 · NCT04744831
These findings — that saw their tumors shrink with the lower dose — were published in the The Lancet. Oncology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 122 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with colorectal cancer, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This was an initial-stage study testing the best dose of trastuzumab deruxtecan for HER2-positive colorectal cancer. The treatment is not yet FDA-approved for colorectal cancer. If you have HER2-positive colorectal cancer that hasn't responded to other treatments, ask your doctor about clinical trials testing this drug or other HER2-targeted therapies.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open colorectal cancer trials
Clinical Study of Irinotecan Liposome (II)-Based Combination Treatment for Irinotecan-resistant Colorectal Cancer.
Phase II clinical study of irinotecan liposome (II)-based combination regimen as a treatment for irinotecan-resistant colorectal cancer.
GENOCARE: A Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial of Genotype-Guided Dosing Versus Usual Care
This is a prospective, randomized study designed to compare genotype-guided dosing to usual care in patients with pancreas cancer and colorectal cancer who are UGT1A1 intermediate metabolizers (\*1/\*28) (heterozygotes) and usual UGT metabolizers (\*1/\*1). All patients will be assessed for UGT1A1 genotype at screening and those with intermediate or usual UGT1A1 genotypes (\*1/\*28, \*1/\*1) will be randomized to genotype-guided dosing versus usual care.