A Phase II Clinical Study on Apatinib Plus Vinorelbine in Refractory HER2-Negative Breast Cancer and its Metabolic Implications of Drug Resistance.

BACKGROUND: Apatinib, a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor that targets the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, contributes to the inhibition of angiogenesis. Vinorelbine, a semisyn-thetic vinca alkaloid, primarily inhibits metaphase mitosis of cancer cells through its interactions with tubulin. This study aimed to evaluate whether apatinib combined with vinorelbine was ef-fective and safe for refractory human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer patients who failed taxanes and/or anthracycline and analyze the possible mechanism of drug resistance through metabolomic analysis. METHODS: Eligible patients were HER2-negative, inoperable, locally advanced, or metastatic breast cancer patients who progressed after at least one chemotherapy regimen in this present prospective phase II study. Patients took oral apatinib (250-500 mg/day) plus intravenous infusion of vinorelbine (25 mg/m2 on day 1, day 8 at 3-week intervals). Objective response rate (ORR) was our primary endpoint, while disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and toxicity were our secondary endpoints. The exploratory purpose was to identify biomarkers or drug resistance mechanisms through metabolomics changes before and after the combination therapy. RESULTS: Between September, 2019 and June, 2022, a total of 34 patients were included. ORR and DCR were 32.4% (11/34) and 85.3% (29/34), respectively. The median PFS was 5.0 months (95% CI, 3.766-6.234), while the median OS was 13.0 months (95% CI, 8.714-17.286). Side effects included hematologic toxicity, gastrointestinal reaction, and sinus tachycardia, which were mild to moderate. The mainly disturbed metabolic pathways were the cAMP signaling pathway, the alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism, the central carbon metabolism in cancer, the beta-alanine metabolism, the butanoate metabolism, and the glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, which may lead to the resistance of patients to this combination therapy. CONCLUSION: Apatinib combined with vinorelbine is effective and safe in patients with locally advanced or metastatic refractory HER2-negative breast cancer. The findings of this study con-tribute to a better understanding of the metabolic effect of apatinib and vinorelbine therapy.

Comparison of neoadjuvant chemotherapy response and prognosis among pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, epirubicin and pirarubicin in HR ⩽ 10%/HER2-negative breast cancer: an exploratory real-world multicentre cohort study.

Background: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), epirubicin and pirarubicin are the main anthracyclines widely used in China. PLD demonstrates therapeutic response comparable to epirubicin and pirarubicin in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) of breast cancer. Objectives: The objectives of our study were to retrospectively assess the real-world effectiveness and prognostic characteristics of PLD as NAC for HR ⩽ 10%/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer. Design: This was a retrospective study. Methods: Our study enrolled patients with HR ⩽ 10%/HER2-negative breast cancer who received PLD-, epirubicin- or pirarubicin-based NAC from three centres in Hunan Province, China, between 2015 and 2022. We employed inverse probability of treatment weighting to balance the differences in patients' characteristics among the PLD, epirubicin, and pirarubicin groups. The endpoints were pathological complete response (pCR), event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 267 patients were included. After NAC, the pCR rates in PLD group were superior to epirubicin group (PLD, 34.1%; epirubicin, 20.8%, p = 0.038). The differences in EFS (log-rank p = 0.99) and OS (log-rank p = 0.33) among the three groups were not statistically significant. Among the three groups, non-pCR patients had worse EFS than pCR patients (log-rank p = 0.014). For patients with pCR, the differences in EFS (log-rank p = 0.47) and OS (log-rank p = 0.38) were not statistically significant among the three groups, and the EFS (log-rank p = 0.59) and OS (log-rank p = 0.14) of non-pCR patients in the PLD group were similar to those in the epirubicin and pirarubicin groups. Conclusion: PLD had a similar therapeutic response and prognosis compared to epirubicin or pirarubicin in NAC for patients with HR ⩽ 10%/HER2 negative breast cancer, which means that PLD represents a potential NAC option.

Elacestrant in ESR1-mutant, endocrine-responsive metastatic breast cancer: should health authorities consider post hoc data to inform priority access?

For patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC) progressed on first-line endocrine therapy plus a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i), fulvestrant, a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) administered intramuscularly, represented the only monotherapy option until the approval of elacestrant. This oral SERD has been approved for patients with ESR1-mutant HR+/HER2- mBC by the European Medicines Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, according to the results of the randomized phase III EMERALD trial, which demonstrated elacestrant superiority over standard endocrine monotherapy. Consequently, elacestrant has been incorporated in the European Society for Medical Oncology and American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines. However, in Europe, the access to this recommended drug depends on the decision of the National Health Authorities of each state. In this communication, we describe the main results and implications of the EMERALD trial, in the context of the biomarker-driven algorithm for patients with HR+/HER2- mBC progressed on CDK4/6i, and conclude that a subgroup of patients with ESR1-mutant tumors and specific clinical features can really derive a clinically meaningful benefit from elacestrant, sparing access to more toxic combination approaches and preserving the quality of life.

Dalpiciclib in combination with letrozole/anastrozole or fulvestrant in HR-positive and HER2-negative advanced breast cancer: results from a phase Ib study.

Background: Dalpiciclib is a novel cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor which showed tolerability and preliminary efficacy as monotherapy for pretreated advanced breast cancer (BC). Objectives: To further assess dalpiciclib with endocrine therapy (ET) in hormone receptor (HR)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative BC. Design: A multicenter, open-label, phase Ib trial. Methods: Patients with locally recurrent or metastatic BC were enrolled in five cohorts. Patients without prior treatment for advanced disease (cohorts 1-2) were given dalpiciclib (125 or 150 mg) plus letrozole/anastrozole; patients who progressed after ET (cohorts 3-5) were given dalpiciclib (125, 150, or 175 mg) plus fulvestrant. Dalpiciclib was administered orally once daily in 3-weeks-on/1-week off schedule. The primary endpoint was safety. Results: A total of 58 patients received dalpiciclib with letrozole/anastrozole and 46 received dalpiciclib with fulvestrant. No maximum tolerated dose of dalpiciclib was reached with letrozole/anastrozole or fulvestrant. Across all cohorts, 86.7%-93.8% of patients had a grade ⩾3 adverse event, with the most common being neutropenia (grade 3, 40.0% for dalpiciclib 175 mg and 61.8%-87.5% for lower doses; grade 4, 46.7% and 4.2%-20.6%, respectively) and leukopenia (grade 3, 80.0% for 175 mg and 33.3%-54.2% for lower doses; grade 4, 0% for all doses). At tested dose levels, steady-state areas under the concentration curve and peak concentration of dalpiciclib increased with dose when combined with letrozole/anastrozole and fulvestrant. Dalpiciclib at 150 mg was associated with a numerically higher objective response rate in both patients untreated for advanced disease (67.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 49.5-82.6) and patients progressing after ET (53.3%; 95% CI 26.6-78.7); as of July 30, 2022, the median progression-free survival with dalpiciclib 150 mg was 24.1 months (95% CI 16.9-46.0) with letrozole/anastrozole and 16.7 months (95% CI 1.9-24.1) with fulvestrant. Conclusion: Dalpiciclib plus letrozole/anastrozole or fulvestrant showed an acceptable safety profile. The recommended phase III dose of dalpiciclib was 150 mg. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03481998.

Efficacy and safety of different regimens of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive, her2-negative breast cancer: a network meta-analysis.

Introduction: The objective of this systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) is to assess the effectiveness and safety of various neoadjuvant treatment protocols in individuals diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive, her2 negative(HR+/HER2-) breast cancer. Materials and methods: A systematic search was conducted in four databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL) from the inception of the databases to January 16, 2024, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to various neoadjuvant therapy options in patients diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. A network meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate pathological complete response (pCR). Results: There were 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) included in the analysis. These trials examined 16 different treatment regimens and involved a total of 5752 participants. The analysis revealed that the six most effective neoadjuvant treatment regimens for HR+/HER2- breast cancer were: CT(A)+olaparib (82.5%), CT(A)+nivolumab (76.5%), Com (74.9%), CT (72.1%), Mono+eribulin (72.0%), and CT(A)+pembrolizumab (70.4%).Paired meta-analysis for pathological complete response (pCR) found no statistically significant distinction between treatment regimens that included both anthracycline and immunosuppressants and regimens that relied solely on anthracycline chemotherapy(OR:1.14, 95%ci 0.79-1.64, I2 = 71%, P=0.50). Similarly, there was no significant difference between platinum-based chemotherapy and anthracycline-basedchemotherapy(OR:1.37, 95%ci 0.53- 3.56, I2 = 11%, P=0.52). With regards to safety, adverse effects of grade 3-5 were observed, which included haematological toxicity, gastrointestinal reactions, skin and mucous membrane reactions, neuropathy, hepatotoxicity, and cardiac disorders. Conclusions: The CT(A)+Olaparib and CT(A)+nivolumab groups demonstrated superior efficacy in neoadjuvant therapy for HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Furthermore, it is crucial to focus on effectively managing the adverse effects of the treatment plan to enhance patient's ability to tolerate it. Given the constraints of the current research, additional well-executed and suitable RCTs are necessary to validate the findings of this investigation. Although pCR is valuable in assessing the effect of neoadjuvant therapy in some cases, prognostic prediction and efficacy assessment in patients with HR+/HER2- breast cancer should be based on a combination of broader clinical and biological characteristics. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024534539, CRD42024501740.

Absolute lymphocyte count predicts efficacy of palbociclib in patients with metastatic luminal breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) is a predictive and prognostic factor for various tumor types, including breast cancer. Palbociclib is a CDK4/6 inhibitor widely used for the treatment of metastatic estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. However, predictive biomarkers of the efficacy of palbociclib remain unelucidated. We conducted a retrospective study to examine the predictive value of the baseline ALC in patients treated with palbociclib. METHODS: The medical records of patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer treated with palbociclib plus hormonal therapy between December 2017 and December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The cutoff value of ALC was set at 1800 cells/µL at the initiation of palbociclib treatment. The clinical benefit rate (CBR) was defined as the rate of complete or partial response or stable disease for at least 6 months. Progression-free survival (PFS) rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: All of the 202 patients were women, with a median age of 59 years and a performance status (PS) of ≤ 2. The median numbers of lines of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy before palbociclib treatment were 0 (range, 0-9) and 1 (range, 0-7), respectively. Fifty-one patients had liver metastases. Forty-six patients tested negative for progesterone receptor (PgR) expression. The median follow-up time was 9.1 months. The CBR was significantly higher in the ALC-high group than in the ALC-low group (79% vs. 60%; P = 0.018). The median PFS was significantly longer in the ALC-high group than in the ALC-low group (26.8 months vs. 8.4 moths, respectively; P = 0.000013). ALC, age, PS, PgR status, prior chemotherapy, prior endocrine therapy, and liver metastasis were entered into the multivariate analysis. ALC was identified as an independent factor for PFS (P = 0.00085), along with liver metastasis (P = 0.0020), PS (P = 0.026), and prior endocrine therapy (P = 0.019). CONCLUSION: ALC can serve as a predictor of palbociclib efficacy in patients with metastatic ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

A phase II study of FOLFOX combined with nab-paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic or advanced unresectable gastric, gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: a Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium trial.

BACKGROUND: Doublet platinum or taxane-based therapies are the current standard backbone of treatment for advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. Previously used anthracycline-based triplet regimens are no longer used routinely due to toxicity and lack of superior efficacy. We hypothesized that the addition of nab-paclitaxel to FOLFOX (FOLFOX-A) would induce higher efficacy and better tolerability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients with chemotherapy-naïve advanced unresectable HER2-negative gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma were enrolled in this phase II single-arm trial of FOLFOX (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, leucovorin 400 mg/m2, 5-FU 2400 mg/m2 over 46-48 hours) + nab-paclitaxel (150 mg/m2) every 14 days of a 28-day cycle. Evaluable disease according to RECIST v1.1 for solid tumors was required. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate. Simon's optimal 2-stage design was used to test 5% versus 20% response rate with 90% power and 10% one-sided type I error rate. RESULTS: The study enrolled 39 patients. Median age was 63 (range 20-80) years, 30 (77%) were male, 34 (94%) were White, and 21 (57%) had gastric tumors. The median number of cycles completed was 4.5 (range: 0-36), and 25 patients required dose reductions or discontinuation of at least one component due to toxicity. Of the 38 patients evaluable for response, 15 (42.9%) had complete/partial response (CR/PR) as the best response, and 13 (37.1%) had stable disease. progression-free survival (PFS) and OS data were available for 38 patients, with a median follow-up duration of 27 months (range: 18.2-51.9 months for censored patients). Median PFS was 6.6 months (95% CI: 5.6-12.9), with 31.0% (95% CI: 18.4%-52.4%) 12-month PFS rate. The median OS was 10.5 months (95% CI: 8.8-20.7), 12-month OS rate was 44.7% (95% CI: 31.4%-63.7%). Treatment-related grade 3-4 toxicities included peripheral sensory neuropathy and anemia (18.4% each), neutropenia (15.8%), and diarrhea and lymphopenia (7.9% each). CONCLUSIONS: FOLFOX-A has a significant response rate, expected toxicities, and should be considered for future investigation in combination with immunotherapy given the recent approvals.

Navigating precision: the crucial role of next-generation sequencing recurrence risk assessment in tailoring adjuvant therapy for hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor Receptor2-negative early breast cancer.

Hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer is the most common subtype, representing over two-thirds of new diagnoses. Adjuvant therapy, which encompasses various medications and treatment durations, is the standard approach for managing early stage HR+ HER2- breast cancer. Optimizing treatment is essential to minimize unnecessary side effects while addressing the biological variability inherent in HR+/HER2- breast cancers. Incorporating biological biomarkers into treatment decisions, alongside traditional clinical factors, is vital. Gene expression assays can identify patients unlikely to benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, thereby refining treatment strategies and improving risk assessment. This paper reviews evidence for several genomic tests, including Oncotype DX, MammaPrint, Breast Cancer Index, RucurIndex, and EndoPredict, which assist in tailoring adjuvant therapy. Additionally, we explore the role of liquid biopsies in personalizing treatment, emphasizing the importance of considering late relapse risks and potential benefits of extended systemic therapy for HR+/HER2- breast cancer patients.

Real-world treatment patterns and outcomes in patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer treated with chemotherapy in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Until recently, treatment options for patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and resistance to endocrine therapy were limited to chemotherapy. This real-world study describes treatment patterns and outcomes in patients treated with chemotherapy in the United States before approval of antibody-drug conjugates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective, observational study included adults with HR+/HER2- mBC from the ConcertAI Patient360™ Breast Cancer dataset who initiated their first chemotherapy in the metastatic setting between January 2011 and June 2021. Treatment patterns were described; real-world overall survival, time to next treatment or death, and real-world progression-free survival were evaluated for all eligible patients and patients treated with subsequent chemotherapy. Index dates were the start date of each chemotherapy treatment. RESULTS: Among 1545 eligible patients, 76% were white, 12% had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥2, 38% had de novo mBC, and median age was 61 years (range, 52-69 years). Within the index period, capecitabine was used the most as the first chemotherapy agent and decreased in later treatments, while the use of eribulin increased between first and fourth chemotherapies. Median (95% confidence interval) real-world overall survival was 23.3 months (21.3-25.4 months) from start of first chemotherapy, time to next treatment or death was 6.5 months (5.9-7.1 months), and real-world progression-free survival was 6.9 months (6.4-7.6 months); median times from second, third, and fourth chemotherapies decreased with each additional chemotherapy treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This real-world study demonstrates that for patients with HR+/HER2- mBC, chemotherapy provides relatively limited survival benefit which decreases with each additional chemotherapy line, and highlights the need for improved treatment options.

Elacestrant in the treatment landscape of ER-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced breast cancer: a contemporary narrative review.

Introduction: Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer with ESR1 mutations presents a significant therapeutic challenge due to its adaptive resistance mechanisms to chemotherapy, especially endocrine treatment. Elacestrant, a novel oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), has emerged as a promising agent in this treatment-resistant era. Method: A comprehensive search was conducted on pivotal clinical trials, including the RAD1901-005 Trial, EMERALD TRIAL, ELIPSE, and ELEVATE, focusing on their methodologies, patient populations, treatment regimens, and outcomes. Discussion: This narrative review describes the available preclinical and clinical evidence on elacestrant, focusing on its pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety within the existing literature. Elacestrant has demonstrated excellent activity against ESR1 mutations associated with resistance to first-line endocrine therapies. Clinical trials have shown improved progression-free survival in patients with advanced ER+/HER2-, ESR1-mutated breast cancer. Safety profiles indicate a tolerable side effect spectrum consistent with other agents. Its oral bioavailability offers a convenient alternative to injectable SERDs, with potential implications for patient adherence and quality of life. The review also discusses the comparative efficacy of elacestrant relative to existing endocrine therapies and its possible use in combination regimens. Conclusion: Ongoing clinical trials assessing elacestrant and other SERDs will yield data that might aid clinicians in determining the optimal selection and order of endocrine treatment drugs for ER+ breast cancer. The integration of targeted and immunotherapeutic agents with traditional chemotherapy represents a pivotal shift in Breast Cancer treatment, moving towards more personalized and effective regimens.