Rose DiMarco, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP
Articles by Rose DiMarco, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP

Comparing Approved ADC Options in HER2-Negative and HER2-Low Breast Cancer
ByHeather Moore, BCOP, CPP, PharmD, Jodi Taraba, PharmD, MS, BCOP, Rodney Hunter, PharmD, BCOP,Jordan Hill, PharmD, BCOP, Rose DiMarco, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP Panelists discuss how antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for breast cancer (BC) differ in their safety profiles, with trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) having notable interstitial lung disease risk, sacituzumab govitecan (SG) associated with neutropenia/diarrhea, and datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) showing a relatively favorable safety profile but still requiring monitoring.

Beyond HER2: Expanding the Biomarker Testing Landscape in Metastatic Breast Cancer
ByHeather Moore, BCOP, CPP, PharmD, Jodi Taraba, PharmD, MS, BCOP, Rodney Hunter, PharmD, BCOP,Jordan Hill, PharmD, BCOP, Rose DiMarco, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP Panelists discuss how HER2 testing optimization requires multisite sampling and quantitative assessment methods to account for intratumoral heterogeneity. Beyond HER2, biomarkers such as PI3K mutations, hormone receptor status, and tumor mutational burden can guide therapy selection for metastatic breast cancer (mBC), enabling more personalized treatment approaches.

How ADC Design Influences Efficacy and Safety
ByHeather Moore, BCOP, CPP, PharmD, Jodi Taraba, PharmD, MS, BCOP, Rodney Hunter, PharmD, BCOP,Jordan Hill, PharmD, BCOP, Rose DiMarco, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP Panelists discuss how antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) show varying efficacy and adverse event (AE) profiles based on their payload potency, linker stability, and drug-to-antibody ratio. Cleavable linkers enable targeted drug release but may increase toxicity, while noncleavable designs offer better stability. Payload selection impacts both therapeutic index and AEs, with more potent warheads requiring careful optimization of targeting and release kinetics.

Transforming Breast Cancer Treatment Through ADC-Targeting Mechanisms
ByHeather Moore, BCOP, CPP, PharmD, Jodi Taraba, PharmD, MS, BCOP, Rodney Hunter, PharmD, BCOP,Jordan Hill, PharmD, BCOP, Rose DiMarco, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP Panelists discuss how antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine monoclonal antibodies with cytotoxic payloads, enabling precise targeting of breast cancer (BC) cells through specific antigen recognition. Upon binding, the ADC-antigen complex is internalized, releasing the toxic payload inside cancer cells while largely sparing healthy tissue. This targeted approach offers improved efficacy and reduces systemic toxicity compared with traditional chemotherapy's broad cytotoxic effects.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Guidelines and the Nuances of HER2-Low Disease in Clinical Practice
ByHeather Moore, BCOP, CPP, PharmD, Jodi Taraba, PharmD, MS, BCOP, Rodney Hunter, PharmD, BCOP,Jordan Hill, PharmD, BCOP, Rose DiMarco, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP Panelists discuss how the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelines for HER2-negative breast cancer (BC) have evolved to recognize HER2-low (IHC 1+ or 2+/ISH-negative) and HER2-ultra low (IHC 0) as distinct categories. These classifications, particularly HER2-low, guide eligibility for targeted therapies such as trastuzumab deruxtecan, expanding treatment options beyond traditional chemotherapy for previously categorized HER2-negative patients.