TBCRC 030: a phase II study of preoperative cisplatin versus paclitaxel in triple-negative breast cancer: evaluating the homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) biomarker.

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin and paclitaxel are active in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Despite different mechanisms of action, effective predictive biomarkers to preferentially inform drug selection have not been identified. The homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.) detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair and may identify patients with BRCA1/2-proficient tumors that are sensitive to DNA-targeting therapy. The primary objective of TBCRC 030 was to detect an association of HRD with pathologic response [residual cancer burden (RCB)-0/1] to single-agent cisplatin or paclitaxel. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective phase II study enrolled patients with germline BRCA1/2 wild-type/unknown stage I-III TNBC in a 12-week randomized study of preoperative cisplatin or paclitaxel. The HRD assay was carried out on baseline tissue; positive HRD was defined as a score ≥33. Crossover to an alternative chemotherapy was offered if there was inadequate response. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-nine patients were evaluable for response, including 88 (63.3%) who had surgery at 12 weeks and 51 (36.7%) who crossed over to an alternative provider-selected preoperative chemotherapy regimen due to inadequate clinical response. HRD results were available for 104 tumors (74.8%) and 74 (71.1%) were HRD positive. The RCB-0/1 rate was 26.4% with cisplatin and 22.3% with paclitaxel. No significant association was observed between HRD score and RCB response to either cisplatin [odds ratio (OR) for RCB-0/1 if HRD positive 2.22 (95% CI: 0.39-23.68)] or paclitaxel [OR for RCB-0/1 if HRD positive 0.90 (95% CI: 0.19-4.95)]. There was no evidence of an interaction between HRD and pathologic response to chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective preoperative trial in TNBC, HRD was not predictive of pathologic response. Tumors were similarly responsive to preoperative paclitaxel or cisplatin chemotherapy.

Prevention of bone loss with risedronate in breast cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

UNLABELLED: In postmenopausal women with low bone mass and hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer on an aromatase inhibitor, risedronate maintained skeletal health assessed by bone density and turnover markers. Women with the greatest decreases in bone turnover markers at 12 months had the greatest increases in bone density at 24 months. INTRODUCTION: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs), adjuvant endocrine therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, are associated with bone loss and fractures. Our objectives were to determine if (1) oral bisphosphonate therapy can prevent bone loss in women on an AI and (2) early changes in bone turnover markers (BTM) can predict later changes in bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: We conducted a 2-year double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial in 109 postmenopausal women with low bone mass on an AI (anastrozole, letrozole, or exemestane) for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Participants were randomized to once weekly risedronate 35 mg or placebo, and all received calcium plus vitamin D. The main outcome measures included BMD, BTM [carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks (CTX) and N-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP)], and safety. RESULTS: Eighty-seven percent completed 24 months. BMD increased more in the active treatment group compared to placebo with an adjusted difference at 24 months of 3.9 ± 0.7 percentage points at the spine and 3.2 ± 0.5 percentage points at the hip (both p < 0.05). The adjusted difference between the active treatment and placebo groups were 0.09 ± 0.04 nmol/LBCE for CTX and 23.3 ± 4.8 µg/mL for P1NP (both p < 0.05). Women with greater 12-month decreases in CTX and P1NP in the active treatment group had a greater 24-month increase in spinal BMD (p < 0.05). The oral therapy was safe and well tolerated. CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal women with low bone mass and breast cancer on an AI, the oral bisphosphonate risedronate maintained skeletal health.

A phase II prospective open-label escalating dose trial of recombinant interleukin-11 in mild von Willebrand disease.

von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a multimeric glycoprotein that mediates platelet adhesion and is decreased in von Willebrand disease (VWD). 1-8 deamino-d-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), the most common treatment for VWD, is limited by tachyphylaxis and inconvenience, and in 20% of the patients, unresponsiveness. Recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11), a gp-130 signalling cytokine with haematopoietic and anti-inflammatory activity, increases VWF antigen and its activity in heterozygous VWF(+/-) mice and dogs. To determine the biological efficacy and safety of rhIL-11 in non-bleeding human subjects with mild VWD, we conducted a phase II prospective open-label trial of rhIL-11 at 10, 25 and 50 mug kg(-1) subcutaneously (s.c.), given daily for 7 days in nine subjects with mild VWD. VWF and factor VIII (FVIII) levels increased gradually and progressively after s.c. rhIL-11, which was sustained through 7 days of dosing to 1.5- to 3-fold over baseline. Following intravenous DDAVP, 0.3 mug kg(-1), on day 7 there was a further boost in VWF and FVIII levels, suggesting that the mechanism of rhIL-11 differs from that of DDAVP. Platelet VWF mRNA expression measured by quantitative PCR increased from two- to eightfold over baseline, suggesting that the mechanism of rhIL-11 effect may be upregulation of VWF mRNA. VWF and FVIII levels returned to baseline by day 14. rhIL-11 was well tolerated with less than grade-1 hypertension, hypokalaemia and fluid retention. Recombinant IL-11 increases VWF levels in humans with mild VWD, justifying future clinical trials to determine its potential in preventing or reducing bleeding in this patient population.