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‹ Sat · 18 Apr 2026
Near-term implementable finding

Genome-wide biomarker analysis across the full spectrum of HER2-expressing breast cancers to reveal a clonal chromosome 17 imbalance defining unfavourable HER2-low disease

A specific chromosomal pattern identifies high-risk breast cancers that might benefit most from targeted HER2 therapies.

Using genome-wide single-cell DNA sequencing in a cohort of HER2-expressing breast tumors, a specific clonal chromosome 17 imbalance was identified as a biomarker distinguishing a high-risk HER2-low subgroup. These findings have implications for refining patient selection for trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) and other HER2-directed therapies in the rapidly expanding HER2-low population.

What the study was

Study design
Genome-wide single-cell DNA sequencing biomarker analysis; retrospective cohort
Population
Breast cancer patients across the full HER2 expression spectrum (HER2-zero, HER2-low, HER2-positive)
Category
Genomics/Precision Medicine
Maturity
Exploratory
Journal
Biomarker Research

Why it surfaced

HER2-low is a rapidly growing therapeutic category (T-DXd); genomic biomarker stratification within HER2-low could refine patient selection in near-term clinical practice.

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