Abstract:Objective To evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive and HER2-low expression advanced breast cancer, and to explore prognostic factors.Methods A total of 144 patients with advanced breast cancer who received T-DXd treatment at the Department of Medical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, from April 2022 to August 2024 were included. Among them, 86 patients (59.7%) had HER2-positive disease and 58 (40.3%) had HER2-low expression. Treatment response was assessed every two cycles according to RECIST v1.1. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and prognostic factors were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model.Results The median age of all enrolled patients was 53.0 years, and 87.5% had visceral metastases. The median number of prior lines of therapy was three. The objective response rate (ORR) was 38.2%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 89.6%. The median PFS was 8.93 months (95% CI: 7.70-13.20). Compared with the HER2-low group, the HER2-positive group demonstrated superior ORR (44.2% vs. 29.3%) and median PFS (13.20 months vs. 6.70 months) (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that among HER2-positive patients, ECOG performance status ≥1 (HR=3.109, P=0.004) and prior anti-HER2 therapy (HR=4.934, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for shorter PFS. Among HER2-low patients, a history of taxane chemotherapy (HR=5.133, P=0.017) and HER2 heterogeneity (HR=2.363, P=0.022) were associated with poor prognosis, while receiving more than three lines of chemotherapy was associated with longer PFS (HR=0.333, P=0.045). Regarding safety, The most common adverse events were elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (63.9%), neutropenia (58.3%), and leukopenia (57.6%). The incidence of grade ≥3 adverse events was relatively low (neutropenia 7.0%, thrombocytopenia 2.3%). The incidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) was 3.5%, including two grade 3 events (1.4%).Conclusion T-DXd demonstrated substantial real-world efficacy in both HER2-positive and HER2-low advanced breast cancer, with greater benefit observed in HER2-positive patients. ECOG performance status, treatment history, and HER2 expression level were key prognostic factors. In clinical practice, individualized treatment strategies should be developed based on molecular characteristics and prior therapy, with close monitoring for hematologic toxicities and ILD.