275. Inside the VIKTORIA-1 trial with Dr. Rachel Layman

Inside the VIKTORIA-1 trial with Dr. Rachel LaymanWhat the New Genitolasib Data Mean for ER+ / HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer

In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura sits down with Dr. Rachel Layman, breast medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, to unpack what’s new in ER-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer—and why clinical trials are not just a last-ditch option.

Dr. Layman walks us through the VIKTORIA-1 trial, a phase III study of a new IV drug (genitolasib, “G” for short) that targets the PAM pathway, which cancer cells often use to grow and outsmart standard hormone therapy. She explains, in plain language, what PIC3CA mutations are, what “wild-type” means, and why this trial is so exciting even for people without a PIC3CA mutation.

You’ll hear:

• Why ER-positive breast cancer is the most common subtype—and still a major driver of metastatic disease
• How clinical trials are designed, and why they’re often most powerful earlier in treatment (not only when “nothing else is left”)
• A clear explanation of the VIKTORIA-1 study design: who was eligible, how the drug is given, and what the results showed
• What “progression-free survival” means and how adding “G” changed the numbers compared to standard therapy alone
• Honest talk about side effects (mouth sores, rash, blood sugar changes), and how teams are preventing and managing them
• How patients can look up trials like VIKTORIA-1 and VIKTORIA-2 on ClinicalTrials.gov and bring these conversations back to their own oncologists

Whether you’re living with ER-positive metastatic breast cancer, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to understand the rapidly evolving science, this episode offers both education and hope.

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