Datroway: A New, Targeted Approach
- If your lung cancer has progressed despite the best available therapies, a drug known as datopotamab deruxtecan or Dato-DXd (brand name: Datroway) could be the fresh start you’ve been hoping for.
- The recently approved targeted option showed real potential to keep cancer in check in recent trials.
- The FDA granted accelerated approval to Datroway for adults with advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have already been treated with EGFR-targeted therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy.
- The drug, a TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate, helped slow cancer growth and delayed the time until patients needed additional treatment.
- NSCLC patients should ask their doctor about being tested for the EGFR mutation and whether Datroway is an appropriate treatment option for them.
“This approval is especially important for patients whose cancer has progressed after previous treatment or who could not tolerate earlier therapies,” Dr. Fatemeh Ardeshir, thoracic oncologist at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, tells SurvivorNet.
Read More“The newly approved drug, Dato-DXd, is a TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate. This means it uses a targeted approach: a monoclonal antibody [a type of immune system protein] is linked to a topoisomerase inhibitor, a chemotherapy agent. The antibody guides the treatment to the cancer cells, helping to reduce damage to healthy cells,” Dr. Ardeshir explains.
The decision was based on promising response rates and durability of benefit seen in two major studies: TROPION-LUNG01 and TROPION-Lung05.
What Is Datroway?
Datroway is a type of treatment called an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). Think of it as a smart missile: it delivers a cancer-killing drug directly to tumor cells that carry a specific protein (TROP2), sparing more healthy tissue in the process.
For people whose cancer has already resisted first-line targeted drugs and chemotherapy, options can feel scarce. That’s why this approval is so important — it offers a new approach for a patient population that urgently needs more tools.
Who Is Eligible For Datroway?
Datroway may be an option if you have locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC, have a confirmed EGFR mutation, have already undergone treatment with a targeted EGRF therapy, and have received a platinum-based chemotherapy.
It’s also important that patients are considered well enough to receive IV treatment every three weeks as that’s how Datroway is administered.
What Is EGFR-Positive Cancer?
The EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) is a protein in cells that helps them grow. If there’s a mistake in the gene for EGFR, it can make it grow too much, leading to cancer.
EGFR is like a switch on the cell that when activated tells the cell to grow. When EGFR mutates it is constantly turned on, which means the cell grows too much. This can result in cancer growth.
If your lung cancer has a mutation in EGFR, it is called an EGFR-mutated lung cancer or EGFR-positive lung cancer, which is a specific subtype. This can affect treatment options and also tells doctors how the cancer typically behaves.
There are several types of EGFR mutations and they do tend to be more common in specific subsets of patients.
The rate of EGFR-mutated lung cancer can vary depending on the population, but it typically comprises around 15% of North American and European patients. It can be almost 50% in Asian populations.
This mutation is more common in the following lung cancer patients:
- Those with the adenocarcinoma subtype of non-small cell lung cancer
- Those with minimal to no smoking history
- Women
- Young adults
- People of Asian or East Asian heritage
What Did The Data Show?
Among 114 patients who fit the criteria and were given Datroway, 45% had their tumors shrink or disappear, responses lasted for a median of 6.5 months, the disease control rate was over 86%, median overall survival reached nearly 16 months, and the treatment delayed cancer growth by about six months.
For many patients, this means more time before needing another therapy and potentially better quality of life during that time.
“These results suggest that Dato-DXd can be an effective option after prior therapies have failed,” Dr. Ardeshir explains.
How The Treatment Works
Datroway is given as an IV infusion every 3 weeks, dosed at 6 mg/kg.
Unlike traditional chemotherapy, Datroway is more selective in targeting cancer cells that express TROP2, a protein found on most EGFR-mutant NSCLC tumors.
Once inside the cell, it releases a topoisomerase inhibitor, a type of drug that interrupts the cancer’s ability to grow and divide.
What to Expect: Side Effects and Safety
While Datroway is generally well-tolerated, like most cancer drugs, it’s not without risks. Some side effects are mild and manageable. Others may need close monitoring.
The most common side effects include:
- Mouth sores and inflammation
- Hair thinning or loss
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Eye irritation or dryness
- Rash or itchy skin
“Patients should talk with their care team about these side effects and whether this treatment is right for them based on their cancer history, prior treatments, and overall health,” Dr. Ardeshir explains.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Has my tumor been tested for TROP2 expression?
- Do I meet the criteria for Datroway?
- Why do you think Datroway is the right option for me at this point in my treatment?
- Is the safety and tolerability of Datroway acceptable for long-term use?
- What are the most common side effects, and how can we manage them?
- How often and for how long will I need to take Datroway?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
ANSWER QUESTIONS
