Multicentre, phase II study evaluating capecitabine monotherapy in patients with anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer

Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer: contemporary nuances to sequencing therapy

The treatment landscape of hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative metastatic breast cancer has evolved dramatically in recent years. While the combination of endocrine therapy and a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor is accepted as standard first-line treatment in most settings without visceral crisis, newer therapies have challenged traditional treatment models where cytotoxic chemotherapy was previously felt to be the only second-line option at time of progression. The incorporation of next-generation sequencing has led to the identification of molecular targets for therapeutic agents, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and ESR1, though similar pathways can be targeted even in the absence of a mutation, such as with use of inhibitors of mammalian target of rapamycin. Current data also supports the use of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors beyond progression, even prior to the patient's first introduction to chemotherapy. The abundance of therapeutic options not only delay time to cytotoxic chemotherapy and antibody-drug conjugate initiation, but has resulted in improvement in breast cancer survivorship. Many unanswered questions remain, however, as to the most efficacious way to sequence these novel agents. To assist in this decision-making, we will review the existing data on systemic therapy and propose a treatment paradigm.

Phase II study of trifluridine/tipiracil in metastatic breast cancers with or without prior exposure to fluoropyrimidines

BACKGROUND

Fluoropyrimidines are commonly used in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) has shown activity in patients with colorectal and gastric cancers despite prior exposure to fluoropyrimidines. We investigate the role of FTD/TPI in patients with MBC with or without prior fluoropyridines in a single-arm phase II study.

METHODS

Patients with MBC were enroled first into a run-in dose confirmation phase, followed by two parallel cohorts including patients with (Cohort A) and without (Cohort B) prior exposure to fluoropyrimidines, where they were treated with FTD/TPI. Primary objectives for each cohort included determination of progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary objectives included determination of objective response rates (ORR), safety, and tolerability.

RESULTS

Seventy-four patients (42 Cohort A, 32 Cohort B) were enroled, all of whom were evaluable for toxicity and survival, with 72 evaluable for response. Median PFS was 5.7 months (95% confidence interval 3.8-8.3) and 9.4 months (95% CI 5.5-14.0) respectively in Cohorts A and B. Responses were observed regardless of prior exposure to fluoropyrimidines, with ORR of 19.5% (95% CI 8.8-34.9) and 16.1% (95% CI 5.5-33.7) in Cohorts A and B, and 6-month clinical benefit rates of 56.1% (95% CI 39.7-71.5) and 61.3% (95% CI 42.2-78.2) respectively. The safety profile was consistent with known toxicities of FTD/TPI, including neutropenia, fatigue, nausea, and anorexia, mitigated with dose modifications.

CONCLUSION

FTD/TPI showed promising antitumour activity with manageable toxicity and is a clinically valid option in patients with MBC.

SEOM-GEICAM-SOLTI clinical guidelines in advanced breast cancer (2022)

Advanced breast cancer represents a challenge for patients and for physicians due its dynamic genomic changes yielding to a resistance to treatments. The main goal is to improve quality of live and survival of the patients through the most appropriate subsequent therapies based on the knowledge of the natural history of the disease. In these guidelines, we summarize current evidence and available therapies for the medical management of advanced breast cancer.

Systemic therapy for hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative early stage and metastatic breast cancer

Hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer is defined by the presence of the estrogen receptor and/or the progesterone receptor and the absence of HER2 gene amplification. HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer accounts for 65%-70% of all breast cancers, and incidence increases with increasing age. Treatment varies by stage, and endocrine therapy is the mainstay of treatment in both early stage and late-stage disease. Combinations with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors have reduced distant recurrence in the early stage setting and improved overall survival in the metastatic setting. Chemotherapy is used based on stage and tumor biology in the early stage setting and after endocrine resistance for advanced disease. New therapies, including novel endocrine agents and antibody-drug conjugates, are now changing the treatment landscape. With the availability of new treatment options, it is important to define the optimal sequence of treatment to maximize clinical benefit while minimizing toxicity. In this review, the authors first discuss the pathologic and molecular features of HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer and mechanisms of endocrine resistance. Then, they discuss current and emerging therapies for both early stage and metastatic HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer, including treatment algorithms based on current data.

A phase Ib trial of pembrolizumab plus paclitaxel or flat-dose capecitabine in 1st/2nd line metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

Chemoimmunotherapy with anti-programmed cell death 1/ligand 1 and cytotoxic chemotherapy is a promising therapeutic modality for women with triple-negative breast cancer, but questions remain regarding optimal chemotherapy backbone and biomarkers for patient selection. We report final outcomes from a phase Ib trial evaluating pembrolizumab (200 mg IV every 3 weeks) with either weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m² weekly) or flat-dose capecitabine (2000 mg orally twice daily for 7 days of every 14-day cycle) in the 1st/2nd line setting. The primary endpoint is safety (receipt of 2 cycles without grade III/IV toxicities requiring discontinuation or ≥21-day delays). The secondary endpoint is efficacy (week 12 objective response). Exploratory aims are to characterize immunologic effects of treatment over time, and to evaluate novel biomarkers. The trial demonstrates that both regimens meet the pre-specified safety endpoint (paclitaxel: 87%; capecitabine: 100%). Objective response rate is 29% for pembrolizumab/paclitaxel (n = 4/13, 95% CI: 10-61%) and 43% for pembrolizumab/capecitabine (n = 6/14, 95% CI: 18-71%). Partial responses are observed in two subjects with chemo-refractory metaplastic carcinoma (both in capecitabine arm). Both regimens are associated with significant peripheral leukocyte contraction over time. Response is associated with clinical PD-L1 score, non-receipt of prior chemotherapy, and the H&E stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte score, but also by a novel 27 gene IO score and spatial biomarkers (lymphocyte spatial skewness). In conclusion, pembrolizumab with paclitaxel or capecitabine is safe and clinically active. Both regimens are lymphodepleting, highlighting the competing immunostimulatory versus lymphotoxic effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Further exploration of the IO score and spatial TIL biomarkers is warranted. The clinical trial registration is NCT02734290.

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for Treating HER2-Positive Unresectable or Metastatic Breast Cancer After Two or More Anti-HER2 Therapies: An Evidence Review Group Perspective of a NICE Single Technology Appraisal

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides guidance to improve health and social care in England and Wales. NICE invited Daiichi Sankyo to submit evidence for the use of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) for treating human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer (UBC/MBC) after two or more anti-HER2 therapies, in accordance with NICE's Single Technology Appraisal process. The Liverpool Reviews and Implementation Group, part of the University of Liverpool, was commissioned to act as the Evidence Review Group (ERG). This article summarises the ERG's review of the evidence submitted by the company and provides an overview of the NICE Appraisal Committee's (AC's) final decision made in May 2021. Results from the company's base-case fully incremental analysis showed that, compared with T-DXd, eribulin and vinorelbine were dominated and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained versus capecitabine was £47,230. The ERG scenario analyses generated a range of ICERs, with the highest being a scenario relating to a comparison of T-DXd versus capecitabine (£78,142 per QALY gained). The ERG considered that due to a lack of appropriate clinical effectiveness evidence, the relative effectiveness of T-DXd versus any comparator treatment could not be determined with any degree of certainty. The NICE AC agreed that the modelling of overall survival was highly uncertain and concluded that treatment with T-DXd could not be recommended for routine use within the National Health Service (NHS). T-DXd was, however, recommended for use within the Cancer Drugs Fund, provided Managed Access Agreement conditions were followed.

Cost-Effectiveness of Pharmacologic Treatment Options for Women With Endocrine-Refractory or Triple-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

PURPOSE

Treatments for endocrine-refractory or triple-negative metastatic breast cancer (mBC) are modestly effective at prolonging life and improving quality of life but can be extremely expensive. Given these tradeoffs in quality of life and cost, the optimal choice of treatment sequencing is unclear. Cost-effectiveness analysis can explicitly quantify such tradeoffs, enabling more informed decision making. Our objective was to estimate the societal cost-effectiveness of different therapeutic alternatives in the first- to third-line sequences of single-agent chemotherapy regimens among patients with endocrine-refractory or triple-negative mBC.

METHODS

Using three dynamic microsimulation models of 10,000 patients each, three cohorts were simulated, based upon prior chemotherapy exposure: (1) unexposed to either taxane or anthracycline, (2) taxane- and anthracycline-exposed, and (3) taxane-exposed/anthracycline-naive. We focused on the following single-agent chemotherapy regimens as reasonable and commonly used options in the first three lines of therapy for each cohort, based upon feedback from oncologists treating endocrine-refractory or triple-negative mBC: (1) for taxane- and anthracycline-unexposed patients, paclitaxel, capecitabine (CAPE), or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin; (2) for taxane- and anthracycline-exposed patients, Eribulin, CAPE, or carboplatin; and (3) for taxane-exposed/anthracycline-naive patients, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, CAPE, or Eribulin.

RESULTS

In each cohort, accumulated quality-adjusted life-years were similar between regimens, but total societal costs varied considerably. Sequences beginning first-line treatment with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and CAPE, respectively, for cohorts 1, 2, and 3, had lower costs and similar or slightly better outcomes compared with alternative options.

CONCLUSION

In this setting where multiple single-agent chemotherapy options are recommended by clinical guidelines and share similar survival and adverse event trajectories, treatment sequencing approaches that minimize costs early may improve the value of care.

Capecitabine induces hand-foot syndrome through elevated thymidine phosphorylase-mediated locoregional toxicity and GSDME-driven pyroptosis that can be relieved by tipiracil

BACKGROUND

Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a serious dose-limiting cutaneous toxicity of capecitabine-containing chemotherapy, leading to a deteriorated quality of life and negative impacts on chemotherapy treatment. The symptoms of HFS have been widely reported, but the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms remain unknown. The metabolic enzyme of capecitabine, thymidine phosphorylase (TP) may be related to HFS. Here, we investigated whether TP contributes to the HFS and the molecular basis of cellular toxicity of capecitabine.

METHODS

TP-/- mice were generated to assess the relevance of TP and HFS. Cellular toxicity and signalling mechanisms were assessed by in vitro and in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

TP-/- significantly reduced capecitabine-induced HFS, indicating that the activity of TP plays a critical role in the development of HFS. Further investigations into the cellular mechanisms revealed that the cytotoxicity of the active metabolite of capecitabine, 5-DFUR, was attributed to the cleavage of GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. Finally, we demonstrated that capecitabine-induced HFS could be reversed by local application of the TP inhibitor tipiracil.

CONCLUSION

Our findings reveal that the presence of elevated TP expression in the palm and sole aggravates local cell cytotoxicity, further explaining the molecular basis underlying 5-DFUR-induced cellular toxicity and providing a promising approach to the therapeutic management of HFS.

Antitumor activity of lurbinectedin in combination with oral capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Preclinical studies showed a synergistic effect for 5-fluorouracil and lurbinectedin against solid tumors. This phase I trial evaluated a combination of capecitabine plus lurbinectedin in patients with selected advanced solid tumors. Results in patients with relapsed metastatic breast cancer (MBC) are described.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients received capecitabine daily on day (D)1-D14 combined with lurbinectedin on D1, D8 or D1 every 3 weeks (q3w) intravenously, following a standard 3 + 3 escalation design and expansion at the recommended dose (RD).

RESULTS

Of the 81 enrolled patients, 28 had relapsed MBC: 20 with hormone receptor (HR)-positive tumors and 8 with triple-negative tumors; 3 treated in the D1,D8 schedule and 25 in the D1 schedule. The RD was capecitabine 1650 mg/m² daily on D1-D14 plus lurbinectedin 2.2 mg/m² on D1 q3w. Sixteen confirmed responses and two prolonged disease stabilizations (≥6 months) were observed [overall response rate (ORR)/clinical benefit rate (CBR) = 57%/64% at all dose levels; 47%/60% at the RD]. Twelve responses and both prolonged stabilizations occurred in HR-positive tumors (ORR/CBR = 60%/70% at all dose levels, 56%/78% at the RD). Four responses were found in triple-negative tumors (ORR and CBR = 50% at all dose levels; 33% at the RD). Myelotoxicity was reversible and manageable at the RD; most non-hematological toxicities were mild/moderate. No episodes of febrile neutropenia or severe palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome occurred. No major pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction was found between lurbinectedin, capecitabine or capecitabine metabolites.

CONCLUSIONS

The capecitabine/lurbinectedin combination showed encouraging clinical activity in relapsed MBC, especially in HR-positive tumors. Toxicity was manageable at the RD. Further development is warranted in relapsed MBC.

Methods for Estimating Long-Term Outcomes for Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2-Positive Unresectable or Metastatic Breast Cancer After Two or More Anti-HER2 Therapies

BACKGROUND

DESTINY-Breast01 (NCT03248492) is a phase II single-arm trial evaluating trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in adults with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) unresectable or metastatic breast cancer (u/mBC) who have received two or more prior anti-HER2 therapies.

OBJECTIVES

Objectives were to explore approaches for estimating long-term overall survival (OS) with T-DXd from immature data (June 2020 data-cut; median follow-up 20.5 months), and compare predicted long-term outcomes with UK-recommended non-targeted therapies eribulin, capecitabine, and vinorelbine.

METHODS

Two methods were used to model T-DXd long-term OS: (1) applying a hazard ratio (HR) to the OS curve for another HER2 targeted therapy (third-line trastuzumab emtansine [T-DM1]) with longer trial follow-up; and (2) extrapolating T-DXd OS data directly. Comparator OS was based on direct extrapolation of published data (comparison with vinorelbine OS was not possible). Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated using a previously published model of utility.

RESULTS

Both extrapolation methods demonstrated longer mean/median OS with T-DXd versus eribulin, and capecitabine (44.7/32.9 months [applying an HR to the T-DM1 OS curve]; 47.7/29.9 months [using direct extrapolation]; vs 11.3/9.2, and 17.8/13.6 months, respectively), translating to 2.3, 2.3, 0.6, and 0.9 discounted QALYs.

CONCLUSION

Alternative methods produced consistent results, showing T-DXd is associated with substantial gains in OS and QALYs versus eribulin, and capecitabine. Modelled median OS results were similar to a later data-cut (median of 29.1 months, March 2021 data-cut). The modelling approach in which an HR was applied to the T-DM1 OS curve informed a submission to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Randomized Phase II Study of Two Doses of Pixantrone in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer (NCCTG N1031, Alliance)

BACKGROUND

Anthracycline use in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is hindered by cumulative exposure limits and risk of cardiotoxicity. Pixantrone, a novel aza-anthracenedione with structural similarities to mitoxantrone and anthracyclines, is theorized to exhibit less cardiotoxicity, mainly due to lack of iron binding. We conducted a randomized phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 2 dosing schedules of pixantrone in patients with refractory HER2-negative MBC.

METHODS

Intravenous pixantrone was administered at 180 mg/m2 every 3 weeks (group A) versus 85 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle (group B). Primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) and secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), median 6-month PFS, overall survival (OS), safety, quality of life, and serial assessment of circulating tumor cells. A 20% ORR was targeted as sufficient for further testing of pixantrone in this patient population.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients were evaluable, with 2 confirmed partial responses in group A and 1 in group B. The trial was terminated due to insufficient activity. Overall median PFS and OS were 2.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0-4.1) and 16.8 (95% CI: 8.9-21.6) months, respectively. Notable overall grade 3-4 adverse events were the following: neutrophil count decrease (62%), fatigue (16%), and decrease in ejection fraction (EF) (4%).

CONCLUSION

Pixantrone has insufficient activity in the second- and third-line MBC setting. It appears, however, to have limited cardiotoxicity. (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01086605).

Genistein, a Potential Phytochemical against Breast Cancer Treatment-Insight into the Molecular Mechanisms

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies in women. Although widespread successful synthetic drugs are available, natural compounds can also be considered as significant anticancer agents for treating BC. Some natural compounds have similar effects as synthetic drugs with fewer side effects on normal cells. Therefore, we aimed to unravel and analyze several molecular mechanisms of genistein (GNT) against BC. GNT is a type of dietary phytoestrogen included in the flavonoid group with a similar structure to estrogen that might provide a strong alternative and complementary medicine to existing chemotherapeutic drugs. Previous research reported that GNT could target the estrogen receptor (ER) human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) and several signaling molecules against multiple BC cell lines and sensitize cancer cell lines to this compound when used at an optimal inhibitory concentration. More specifically, GNT mediates the anticancer mechanism through apoptosis induction, arresting the cell cycle, inhibiting angiogenesis and metastasis, mammosphere formation, and targeting and suppressing tumor growth factors. Furthermore, it acts via upregulating tumor suppressor genes and downregulating oncogenes in vitro and animal model studies. In addition, this phytochemical synergistically reverses the resistance mechanism of standard chemotherapeutic drugs, increasing their efficacy against BC. Overall, in this review, we discuss several molecular interactions of GNT with numerous cellular targets in the BC model and show its anticancer activities alone and synergistically. We conclude that GNT can have favorable therapeutic advantages when standard drugs are not available in the pharma markets.

Capecitabine in combination with bendamustine in pretreated women with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: results of a phase II trial (AGMT MBC-6)

Background:

Bendamustine, a medication approved for the treatment of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has already shown anticancer activity in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Here, we present the results of a phase II trial of bendamustine in combination with capecitabine in pre-treated patients with MBC.

Patients and methods:

AGMT MBC-6 is a multicentre, open-label, single-arm phase II study in HER2-negative MBC. All patients were pre-treated with anthracyclines and/or taxans and had measurable disease. Patients received per os 1000 mg/m² capecitabine twice daily on days 1 to 14 in combination with 80 mg/m² bendamustine intravenously on days 1 and 8 of a 3-week cycle for a maximum of eight cycles, followed by a capecitabine maintenance therapy. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR).

Results:

From September 2013 to May 2015, 40 patients were recruited in eight Austrian centres. The median age was 60 years (range 29–77). Twenty-five per cent of patients had triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and 93% showed visceral involvement. With 17 partial and one complete remission, ORR was 46%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.5 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 6.1–10.7]. The most common non-haematological adverse events (AEs) of grade 3 were hand-foot syndrome (13%), fatigue (10%), nausea (8%), and dyspnoea (8%). One grade 4 non-haematological AE (hepatic failure) and three grade 4 haematological AEs (neutropenia) were observed. One patient died of restrictive cardiomyopathy, in which a relationship to capecitabine cannot be excluded, but seems unlikely.

Conclusion:

The combination of capecitabine and bendamustine shows promising efficacy and moderate toxicity. Further evaluation of this drug combination is warranted.

The clinical trial AGMT MBC-6 was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, (https://clinicaltrials.gov/; identifier: NCT01891227).

The Place of Chemotherapy in The Evolving Treatment Landscape for Patients With HR-positive/HER2-negative MBC

Endocrine therapy (ET) for the treatment of patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR-positive/HER2-negative) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has changed markedly over recent years with the emergence of new ETs and the use of molecularly targeted agents. Cytotoxic chemotherapy continues, however, to have an important role in these patients and it is important to maximize its efficacy while minimizing toxicity to optimize outcomes. This review examines current HR-positive/HER2-negative MBC clinical guidelines and addresses key questions around the use of chemotherapy in the face of emerging therapeutic options. Specifically, the indications for chemotherapy in patients with HR-positive/HER2-negative MBC and the choice of optimal chemotherapy are discussed.

Management of hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor 2-negative metastatic breast cancer

Estrogen receptor (ER) is the major driver of most metastatic breast cancers (mBCs). Endocrine therapy (ET) is the most effective treatment for ER + mBC, but its effectiveness is limited by high rates of de novo and acquired resistance. A growing understanding of the biological characteristics and complexity of the ER pathway and the mechanisms of ET resistance has led to the development of a new generation of targeted therapies. One such mechanism is the cell cycle signaling pathways, which lead to the development of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6is) that have, in turn, transformed the management of such tumors. Another important mechanism is the alteration of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. Drugs targeting each component of these pathways are currently used in clinical practice, and several more are in development. As a result, a myriad of new targeted therapies are consistently being added to the clinical oncologist armamentarium. Navigating the evolving and highly complex treatment landscape of HR + /HER2- mBC remains both an art and a challenge. In this review, we discuss the biological features of HR + /HER2- mBC and the different mechanisms of resistance to ET. We also discuss the management of mBC as the disease changes from endocrine-sensitive to endocrine-resistant.

Comparison of capecitabine-based regimens with platinum-based regimens in Chinese triple-negative breast cancer patients with liver metastasis

Background

Capecitabine-based chemotherapy (CBC) presents potential value in patients with liver metastasis; platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) has shown promising benefit in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). For TNBC patients with liver metastasis, which treatment strategy is better remains to be further studied. The aim of this study was to report the first real-world data evaluating the efficacy and safety of PBC versus CBC in the first-line treatment in Chinese TNBC patients with liver metastasis.

Methods

TNBC patients with liver metastasis pretreated with anthracyclines/taxanes in 4 institutions of China between January 2010 and December 2019 were included. Objective response rate (ORR), overall survival, treatment pattern, and toxicity profile were assessed between PBC and CBC groups.

Results

A total of 59 TNBC patients with liver metastasis were identified. Among these, 33 were treated with PBC and 26 were treated with CBC. The ORR was higher in the CBC group than in the PBC group (57.7% versus 30.3%, P=0.035). Median overall survival was also greatly improved (19.2 versus 14.4 months, P=0.041). Docetaxel/cisplatin was more likely to be used for PBC, and paclitaxel/capecitabine was the main regimen for CBC. Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that CBC was an independent predictor for overall survival after adjustment for baseline factors including age, tumor size, nodal status, prior anthracyclines/taxanes use, and tumor grade (odds ratio =0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.98; P=0.042). Adverse events were not different except gastrointestinal tract toxicities, hand-foot syndrome and hematologic toxicity.

Conclusions

For TNBC patients with liver metastasis, capecitabin-based chemotherapy might be more suitable than the platinum-based regimen in the first-line treatment, as measured by objective response rate and overall survival. Further large-scale studies are warranted.

Chemotherapy Options beyond the First Line in HER-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

Despite the recent advances in the biological understanding of breast cancer (BC), chemotherapy still represents a key component in the armamentarium for this disease. Different agents are available as mono-chemotherapy options in patients with locally advanced or metastatic BC (MBC) who progress after a first- and second-line treatment with anthracyclines and taxanes. However, no clear indication exists on what the best option is in some populations, such as heavily pretreated, elderly patients, triple-negative BC (TNBC), and those who do not respond to the first-line therapy. In this article, we summarize available literature evidence on different chemotherapy agents used beyond the first-line, in locally advanced or MBC patients, including rechallenge with anthracyclines and taxanes, antimetabolite and antimicrotubule agents, such as vinorelbine, capecitabine, eribulin, ixabepilone, and the newest developed agents, such as vinflunine, irinotecan, and etirinotecan.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Patients With Up-Front Metastatic Breast Cancer: Single-Center Experience in India

PURPOSE

Approximately 5% to 10% of patients with breast cancer present with up-front metastasis and carry a poor prognosis (5-year survival rates of approximately 20%). To date, little is known about the long-term outcome of patients with metastatic breast cancer from developing nations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed an ambispective review of approximately 1,800 patients who were registered in breast cancer clinics between January 2012 and August 2018. Approximately 410 (22.8%) patients presented with up-front metastasis. Out of 410, 375 were considered for additional analysis. Clinical, pathologic, and radiologic details were obtained from the medical records.

RESULTS

Median age of presentation was 49 years (range, 22 to 80 years), and median duration of symptoms was 6 months (interquartile range, 3-12 months). Baseline receptor status suggested that 234 patients (62.4%) were hormone receptor (HR) positive, 145 (38.6%) were human epidermal growth factor receptor positive, and 69 (18.6%) had triple-negative breast cancer. Various sites of metastasis were: visceral 219 (58.4%), bone only 100 (26.7%), nonregional lymph node metastasis 21 (5.6%), brain 10 (2.7%), and others 25 (5.8%). Approximately 309 patients (82.4%) received up-front chemotherapy, 192 HR-positive patients (82.1%) received endocrine therapy, and 78 human epidermal growth factor receptor–positive patients (53.8%) received targeted agents. Median progression-free survival was 14.2 months (95% CI, 12.7 to 16.8 months), and median overall survival (OS) was 31.7 months (95% CI, 25.8 to 38.2 months) for the cohort. Median time of follow-up was 22.2 months. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, HR-positive disease, good performance status (0 or 1), and oligometastasis were associated with better OS, whereas triple-negative breast cancer and liver and brain metastasis were associated with inferior OS.

CONCLUSION

This is the first comprehensive study, to our knowledge, of metastatic breast cancer from India. HR-positive status, oligometastasis, and good performance status were associated with better outcomes.

Gut Microbiota Profiling in Patients With HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Metronomic Chemotherapy of Capecitabine Compared to Those Under Conventional Dosage

Purpose: Low-dose metronomic chemotherapy can achieve disease control with reduced toxicity compared to conventional chemotherapy in maximum tolerated dose. Characterizing the gut microbiota of cancer patients under different dosage regimens may describe a new role of gut microbiota associated with drug efficacy. Therefore, we evaluated the composition and the function of gut microbiome associated with metronomic capecitabine compared to conventional dosage. Methods: The fecal samples of HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients treated with capecitabine as maintenance chemotherapy were collected and analyzed by 16S ribosome RNA gene sequencing. Results: A total of 15 patients treated with metronomic capecitabine were compared to 16 patients under a conventional dose. The unweighted-unifrac index of the metronomic group was statistically significantly lower than that of the routine group (P = 0.025). Besides that, the Bray-Curtis distance-based redundancy analysis illustrated that the microbial genera between the two groups can be separated partly. Nine Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) modules were enriched in the metronomic group, while no KEGG modules were significantly enriched in the routine group. Moreover, univariate and multivariate analyses suggested that the median progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly shorter in patients with the gut microbial composition of Slackia (9.2 vs. 32.7 months, P = 0.004), while the patients with Blautia obeum had a significantly prolonged PFS than those without (32.7 vs. 12.9 months, P = 0.013). Conclusions: The proof-of-principle study suggested that the gut microbiota of patients receiving metronomic chemotherapy was different in terms of diversity, composition, and function from those under conventional chemotherapy, and the presence of specific bacterial species may act as microbial markers associated with drug resistance monitoring and prognostic evaluation.

Breast Cancer, Version 3.2020, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

Several new systemic therapy options have become available for patients with metastatic breast cancer, which have led to improvements in survival. In addition to patient and clinical factors, the treatment selection primarily depends on the tumor biology (hormone-receptor status and HER2-status). The NCCN Guidelines specific to the workup and treatment of patients with recurrent/stage IV breast cancer are discussed in this article.

Efficacy of different dosing schedules of capecitabine for metastatic breast cancer: a single-institution experience

Purpose Capecitabine is widely used as a single agent on a 21-day cycle in the management of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Our primary objective was to compare the standard dosing of capecitabine (Arm A: days 1-14 on 21-day cycle) to biweekly dosing (Arm B: days 1-7 and 15-21 on 28-day cycle) using retrospective data analysis. Methods 166 patients with MBC treated with single agent capecitabine at The Ohio State University from 2002 to 2014 were considered eligible. Median time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier (KM) methods. KM curves were compared using log-rank tests with Holm's correction for multiplicity. Results Patients were grouped by dose schedule into one of three arms: Arm A (21-day cycle; capecitabine given at 1000 mg/m² orally, twice daily on days 1-14 of 21-day cycle); Arm B (28-day cycle; capecitabine given at 1000 mg/m² orally, twice daily on days 1-7 and 15-21 of 28-day cycle); and Arm C (changeover regimen where patients started on the 21-day cycle, but changed to a 28-day cycle for tolerability). No difference was found in TTF or OS for patients with MBC between those who received capecitabine on either standard dosing (Arm A) and those on a biweekly cycle (Arm B or C). Overall, 41% of patients required dose reduction. Conclusions Our single institution experience showed that alternate dosing of capecitabine (biweekly, 28-day cycle) may be a reasonable alternative to standard 21-day cycle with similar efficacy and fewer dose reductions.

Assessing the tolerability and efficacy of first-line chemotherapy in elderly patients with metastatic HER2-ve breast cancer

Background

In metastatic breast cancer (MBC), there is no consensus regarding the optimal regimen sequence and whether adults >65 years old (OA) are at increased risk from chemotherapy toxicity. Treatment decisions are often driven by the ability to tolerate treatment and maintain the quality of life. This study was designed to assess current practice in an oncology hospital in the UK.

Methods

Retrospective data were collected about treatments used for 87 OA with MBC in a single centre between 2009 and 2016 to assess the tolerability and efficacy of first-line chemotherapy. Student’s T-tests and Kaplan-Meier statistical methods were applied.

Results

70% of patients were commenced on standard dose (SD) of chemotherapy; 84% (21/25) of the anthracycline group (AG), 65% (20/31) of the capecitabine group (CG), 48% (10/21) of the taxane group (TG) and 100% (10/10) of other agents. 32% of patients had dose reductions; 16% in AG, 19% in TG and 58% in CG. Overall 30% of patients received six cycles of SD of chemotherapy; 36% in AG, 29% in CG and 14% in TG. 23% of patients suffered ≥grade 3 toxicity; 28% in AG, 29% in CG and 10% in TG. There were four treatment-related deaths; two in AG and one in both CG and TG. 61% of the CG received 6+ cycles with a mean on treatment time of 445 days (1–2,150). There was no statistical significance in progression- free survival (PFS) between groups. The median PFS for all patients was 244 days (87–381). Performance status, haemoglobin and estimated glomerular filtration rates prior to starting chemotherapy were all useful in predicting PFS.

Conclusions

A relevant number of patients required dose reduction but dose-reduced chemotherapy was tolerated well. Anthracycline-based regimens were used in patients who had not received adjuvant chemotherapy. Capecitabine required the most dose reductions. Taxanes were generally started at reduced doses, resulting in fewer grade 3+ toxicities. As well as age, underlying physiological reserve, current performance status and co-morbidities should guide physicians who should consider lower starting doses in OA and recognise that dose reductions may be required to improve tolerability. The PFS of all regimens were similar in this study. This study highlights the need for further research to define the optimal first-line chemotherapy and starting dose in OA with MBC.

Efficacy of capecitabine in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer with or without prior treatment with fluoropyrimidine: a retrospective study

Purpose

We conducted a retrospective study to assess the outcomes of capecitabine for advanced breast cancer (ABC) after perioperative fluoropyrimidines (FPs).

Methods

The charts of patients with ABC who received capecitabine between 2008 and 2016 at the National Cancer Center Hospital (Tokyo, Japan) were reviewed. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), tumor response, and adverse events (AEs) were compared between two groups: an FP group (prior perioperative FP use) and a non-FP group (no prior FP use).

Results

Overall, 288 patients (FP n = 105; non-FP n = 183) were analyzed. The two groups had similar patient characteristics. The FP group had significantly poorer PFS than the non-FP group (multivariate hazard ratio [HR] 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.73; p = 0.036), although the OS did not differ significantly between the groups (multivariate HR 1.00; 95% CI 0.67–1.50; p = 0.994). With different cut-off values (relapse-free interval [RFI] = 3, 4, and 5 years), multivariate HRs for PFS were 1.32–1.67 (short RFI), and 1.00–1.25 (long RFI). A trend for a larger HR in the FP group compared to the non-FP group with short RFI than in that with long RFI was also seen for OS. Response rate (RR) and disease control rate (DCR) did not differ significantly between the groups (RR in FP vs non-FP 13.8 vs 21.0%; p = 0.173; DCR 54.0 vs 59.9%; p = 0.418). No significant difference in AEs existed between the groups.

Conclusions

Extra caution is needed when capecitabine is considered for patients with ABC who used perioperative FP, especially those who had early recurrence.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00280-018-3617-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Outcomes of systemic therapy for advanced triple-negative breast cancer: A single centre experience

BACKGROUND

Prognosis is worse for advanced triple-negative breast cancer (aTNBC) compared to other disease subtypes. Trials describe treatment outcomes in single specified lines of therapy; but few data describe treatment outcomes across the whole treatment pathway, which is critical in determining when patients should be referred for trials and to inform discussion. We evaluated treatment outcomes for aTNBC (overall response rate [ORR], median progression-free survival [mPFS] and median overall survival [mOS]) in patients treated largely outside of clinical trials.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified 268 patients diagnosed with aTNBC from 01/12/2011 to 30/11/2016 from our electronic records and recorded patients' and tumour characteristics and treatment outcomes. Chi-squared/Fishers exact test and Kaplan-Meier statistical methods were utilised.

RESULTS

186 patients treated with ≥1 line of systemic treatment were eligible and had median age of 55 (range 26-91). 53.8% had ECOG Performance Status 0 and 69.9% visceral involvement. 38.6% had disease-free interval (DFI)≤12 months following surgery or adjuvant chemotherapy completion and 14.0% had de-novo advanced disease. 11.4% carried a BRCA mutation. 64.5% received two lines of therapy, 37.6% three and 21.5% four. ORR and mPFS were 43.9% and 3.7 months for first-line therapy, 40.2% and 3.5 months for second-line, 28.8% and 2.5 months for third-line and 25.0% and 2.1 months for fourth-line. In first line, DFI>12 months was associated with higher ORR and longer PFS compared DFI ≤12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed response rates are consistent with literature. However, PFS is short, and early consideration of clinical trials can be justified in these patients.

Practical consensus recommendations on management of triple-negative metastatic breast cancer

Patients with breast cancer along with metastatic estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR)- and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative tumors are referred to as having metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) disease. Resistance to current standard therapies such as anthracyclines or taxanes limits the available options for previously treated patients with metastatic TNBC to a small number of non-cross-resistant regimens, and there is currently no preferred standard chemotherapy. Clinical experience suggests that many women with triple-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) relapse quickly. Expert oncologist discussed about new chemotherapeutic strategies and agents used in treatment of mTNBC and the expert group used data from published literature, practical experience and opinion of a large group of academic oncologists to arrive at this practical consensus recommendations for the benefit of community oncologists.

Natural Products for the Management and Prevention of Breast Cancer

Among all types of cancer, breast cancer is one of the most challenging diseases, which is responsible for a large number of cancer related deaths. Hormonal therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have been used as treatment of breast cancer, for a very long time. Due to severe side effects and multidrug resistance, these treatment approaches become increasingly ineffective. However, adoption of complementary treatment approach can be a big solution for this situation, as it is evident that compounds derived from natural source have a great deal of anticancer activity. Natural compounds can fight against aggressiveness of breast cancer, inhibit cancerous cell proliferation, and modulate cancer related pathways. A large number of research works are now focusing on the natural and dietary compounds and trying to find out new and more effective treatment strategies for the breast cancer patients. In this review, we discussed some significant natural chemical compounds with their mechanisms of actions, which can be very effective against the breast cancer and can be more potent by their proper modifications and further clinical research. Future research focusing on the natural anti-breast-cancer agents can open a new horizon in breast cancer treatment, which will play a great role in enhancing the survival rate of breast cancer patients.

Intermittent Capecitabine Monotherapy with Lower Dose Intensity in Heavily Pretreated Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Aims and Background

The purpose of the present retrospective study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of a lower dose-intensity capecitabine monotherapy regimen in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods

Patients with metastatic breast cancer who had been administered capecitabine monotherapy between June 2003 and August 2004 at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Oral capecitabine (828 mg/m2) was given twice daily for three weeks followed by a one-week rest period; this was repeated every four weeks.

Results

One-hundred and two patients were assessed. Median follow-up of patients was 16.4 months. One hundred patients (98%) had been pretreated with either anthracyclines or taxanes, 81 patients (79%) with both anthracyclines and taxanes. Response rate was 17% (95% CI, 9-24%), and clinical benefit rate was 41% (95% CI, 32-51%). Median time-to-treatment failure was 4.9 months, and median overall survival time was 24.3 months. This regimen was well tolerated. The most frequent grade 3 or 4 adverse event was hand-foot syndrome (6%). Other grade 3 or 4 adverse events were seen in only 1%-3% of patients.

Conclusions

Intermittent capecitabine monotherapy with lower dose intensity achieved a high tumor control rate with low toxicity in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients.

Capecitabine in Elderly Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Aims and background

Capecitabine is the reference treatment for anthracycline-and/or taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This study examined its efficacy, tolerability and impact on the quality of life of elderly patients with MBC.

Materials and methods

Between January 2002 and December 2009, 75 consecutive elderly patients with MBC received first-line chemotherapy with capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily for 14 days every 3 weeks. Endpoints were efficacy, tolerability and clinical-benefit response measured every 3 cycles.

Results

Median age was 76 years (range 65–88); median ECOG performance status was 1 (range 0–2); 51 patients (68%) had received adjuvant chemotherapy and all patients had received hormonal therapy. Median exposure was 6 cycles. After 3 cycles, 11 patients (14.7%) had a partial response, one patient experienced a complete response, and 49 patients (65.3%) had stable disease, amounting to a disease control rate of 81.3%. Stable disease was maintained in 45 patients (60%) after 6 cycles, in 21 patients (28%) after 9 cycles, and in 13 patients (17.3%) after 12 cycles. A clinical-benefit response was experienced by 42 patients (56%), indicating a positive impact on quality of life. Treatment was well tolerated, the most common grade 3 events being diarrhea (12%) hand-foot syndrome (8%), and mucositis (8%). Adverse events were managed with dose adjustments and supportive therapy when required.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that capecitabine is active and well tolerated in elderly patients with MBC. This dosing regimen warrants further study in the first-line setting for patients with less aggressive MBC who are not candidates for combination therapy.

RESILIENCE: Phase III Randomized, Double-Blind Trial Comparing Sorafenib With Capecitabine Versus Placebo With Capecitabine in Locally Advanced or Metastatic HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic/antiproliferative activity. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial, we assessed first- or second-line capecitabine with sorafenib or placebo in patients with locally advanced/metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer resistant to a taxane and anthracycline and with known estrogen/progesterone receptor status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 537 patients were randomized to capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 orally twice per day for days 1 to 14 every 21 days with oral sorafenib 600 mg/d or placebo. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Patients were stratified according to hormone receptor status, previous chemotherapies for metastatic breast cancer, and geographic region.

RESULTS

Treatment with sorafenib with capecitabine, compared with capecitabine with placebo, did not prolong median PFS (5.5 vs. 5.4 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.973; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.779-1.217; P = .811) or overall survival (OS; 18.9 vs. 20.3 months; HR, 1.195; 95% CI, 0.943-1.513; P = .140); or enhance overall response rate (ORR; 13.5% vs. 15.5%; P = .515). Any grade toxicities (sorafenib vs. placebo) included palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (PPES; 79.2% vs. 59.6%), diarrhea (47.3% vs. 37.8%), mucosal inflammation (15.4% vs. 6.7%), and hypertension (26.2% vs. 5.6%). Grade 3/4 toxicities included PPES (15.4% vs. 7.1%), diarrhea (4.2% vs. 6.4%), and vomiting (3.5% vs. 0.7%).

CONCLUSION

The combination of sorafenib with capecitabine did not improve PFS, OS, or ORR in patients with HER2-negative advanced breast cancer. Rates of Grade 3 toxicities were higher in the sorafenib arm.

Predictors of Hand-Foot Syndrome and Pyridoxine for Prevention of Capecitabine-Induced Hand-Foot Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a common adverse effect of capecitabine treatment.

Objective

To compare the incidence and time to onset of grade 2 or greater HFS in patients receiving pyridoxine vs placebo and to identify biomarkers predictive of HFS.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This single-center, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial conducted at National Cancer Centre Singapore assessed whether oral pyridoxine could prevent the onset of grade 2 or higher HFS in 210 patients scheduled to receive single-agent capecitabine chemotherapy for breast, colorectal, and other cancers.

Interventions

Patients were randomized to receive concurrent pyridoxine (200 mg) or placebo daily for a maximum of 8 cycles of capecitabine, with stratification by sex and use in adjuvant or neoadjuvant vs palliative setting. Patients were withdrawn from the study on development of grade 2 or higher HFS or cessation of capecitabine.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary end point was the incidence of grade 2 or higher HFS in patients receiving pyridoxine. Secondary end points included the time to onset (days) of grade 2 or higher HFS and identification of biomarkers predictive of HFS, including baseline folate and vitamin B12 levels, as well as genetic polymorphisms with genome-wide arrays.

Results

In this cohort of 210 patients (median [range] age, 58 [26-82] years; 162 women) grade 2 or higher HFS occurred in 33 patients (31.4%) in the pyridoxine arm vs 39 patients (37.1%) in the placebo arm (P = .38). The median time to onset of grade 2 or higher HFS was not reached in both arms. In univariate analysis, the starting dose of capecitabine (odds ratio [OR], 1.99; 95% CI, 1.32-3.00; P = .001), serum folate levels (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.10-1.47; P = .001), and red blood cell folate levels (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08-1.44; P = .003) were associated with increased risk of grade 2 or higher HFS. In multivariate analyses, serum folate (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.12-1.52; P < .001) and red blood cell folate (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10-1.49; P = .001) were the only significant predictors of grade 2 or higher HFS. Grade 2 or higher HFS was associated with 300 DNA variants at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-8), including a novel DPYD variant (rs75267292; P = 1.57 × 10-10), and variants in the MACF1 (rs183324967, P = 4.80 × 10-11; rs148221738, P = 5.73 × 10-10) and SPRY2 (rs117876855, P < 1.01 × 10-8; rs139544515, P = 1.30 × 10-8) genes involved in wound healing.

Conclusions and Relevance

Pyridoxine did not significantly prevent or delay the onset of grade 2 or higher HFS. Serum and red blood cell folate levels are independent predictors of HFS.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00486213.

A Phase I Trial of the PI3K Inhibitor Buparlisib Combined With Capecitabine in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Buparlisib is an oral pan-class I phosphotidyinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor. The present phase I study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of buparlisib with capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients received buparlisib once daily (range, 50 to 100 mg) for 3 weeks with capecitabine twice daily (range, 1000 to 1250 mg/m²) for 2 weeks with a 1-week break. Dose escalation used a traditional "3 + 3" design with standard definitions of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximum tolerated dose.

RESULTS

Of the 25 patients enrolled, 23 were evaluable for DLT and 17 were evaluable for response. The maximum tolerated dose of the combination was buparlisib 100 mg daily and capecitabine 1000 mg/m² twice daily. DLTs included grade 3 hyperglycemia and grade 3 confusion. The most common grade 3 toxicities were diarrhea and elevation of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase. One patient exhibited a complete response to treatment and four had a confirmed partial response. In cohorts 3 and 4, in which the buparlisib dose remained constant but the capecitabine dose was increased, significant increases in the buparlisib plasma concentration were noted.

CONCLUSION

The combination of buparlisib with capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer was generally well-tolerated, with several patients demonstrating prolonged responses. Unexpectedly low rates of PIK3CA mutations (3 of 17) were seen, and only 2 of 7 tumors with subtyping were luminal, making exploration of these putative predictive markers impossible. Further study of the combination is not unreasonable, with expanded pharmacokinetics and sequencing analysis to better elucidate potential drug-drug interactions and more accurate predictive biomarkers of response.

Efficacy and safety of doublet versus single agent as salvage treatment for metastatic breast cancer pretreated with anthracyclines and taxanes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare the efficacy and safety of doublet versus single agent as salvage treatment for pretreated metastatic breast cancer.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). All clinical studies were independently identified by two authors for inclusion. Demographic data, treatment regimens, objective response rate (ORR), and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were extracted and analyzed using Comprehensive MetaAnalysis software (Version 2.0).

RESULTS

Thirteen RCTs involving 4878 pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients were ultimately identified. The pooled results demonstrated that doublet combination therapy significantly improved ORR (RR 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01-1.27, p < .001) and PFS (hazard ration [HR] 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73-0.96, p = .011), but not OS (HR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.86-1.01, p = .065). Similar results were observed in sub-group analysis according to treatment regimens. Additionally, more incidences of grade 3 or 4 myelosuppression toxicities nausea and fatigue were observed in doublet combination therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

In comparison with a single agent alone, doublet combination therapy as salvage treatment for pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients significantly improves ORR and PFS, but not OS. Further studies are recommended to identify patients who will most likely benefit from the appropriate doublet combination therapy.

A phase II study of capecitabine plus cisplatin in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients pretreated with anthracyclines and taxanes

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin is an effective agent for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and synergistic activity between cisplatin and capecitabine has been demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo studies. This study was designed as a prospective clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine plus cisplatin (XP) regimen in metastatic TNBC patients pretreated with anthracyclines and taxanes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-three patients with metastatic TNBC who had anthracyclines and taxanes as prior therapy were treated with capecitabine 2000 mg/m(2) orally on day 1 through 14 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) intravenously on day 1 of a 21-day cycle, followed by capecitabine maintenance medications after a maximum of 6 cycles. The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR) and the secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity profiles.

RESULTS

A total of 162 cycles was given. ORR was 63.6%. Median PFS was 8.2 (95%CI: 4.8-11.6) months in the entire population and 10.8 (95%CI: 6.5-15.1) months in responding patients. Median OS was 17.8 (95%CI: 14.4-21.2) months in all enrolled patients and 25.8 (95%CI: 14.6-37.0) months in responding patients. Most adverse events were mild and manageable, with neutropenia and nausea/vomiting as the most common toxicities. Grade 3/4 toxicities included leukopenia (10, 30.3%), neutropenia (10, 30.3%), anemia (2, 6.1%), thrombocytopenia (1, 3.0%), nausea/vomiting (3, 9.1%), hand-foot syndrome (HFS; 1, 3.0%), and sensory neuropathy (1, 3.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Capecitabine plus cisplatin demonstrated an excellent activity and an acceptable safety profile in metastatic TNBC patients pretreated with anthracyclines and taxanes.

Vinflunine for the treatment of breast cancer

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the highest cause of cancer mortality in females worldwide. The development of drugs improving overall survival in late-stage metastatic breast cancer remains a challenge. Vinflunine is the most recently developed drug in the vinca alkaloid class. Its arrival has been eagerly awaited for treatment of solid tumors, and in particular, for metastatic breast cancer.

AREAS COVERED

The pharmacological features of vinflunine are described. Its clinical development as monotherapy or in combination in metastatic breast cancer is detailed. A literature search on the topic was conducted through PubMed, clinical trials and the proceedings of the main cancer congresses.

EXPERT OPINION

The overall results from phase III studies, and in particular those that combined vinflunine with capecitabine, have been less favorable. The combination's effectiveness was at best moderate compared with other drugs which also target metastatic breast cancer, and complicated by significant hematological and gastrointestinal adverse effects. Its use in advanced metastatic breast cancer cannot currently be recommended.

Systematic review of ixabepilone for treating metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Ixabepilone is now a Food and Drug Administration-approved therapeutic option for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) whose disease has progressed despite prior anthracycline and taxane therapy. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of ixabepilone for treating metastatic breast cancer.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Randomized controlled studies applying ixabepilone for treating MBC were included. The primary outcome was Overall Survival (OS). The authors of primary articles were contacted and methodological quality was evaluated. Subgroups were drawn based on intervention measures; heterogeneity and bias were discussed.

RESULTS

Eight studies with 5247 patients were included. Compared with a weekly schedule, a triweekly schedule of ixabepilone was better at improving overall response rate (ORR), while there were no differences in improving OS and progression-free survival (PFS). Ixabepilone plus capecitabine was superior to capecitabine monotherapy in improving OS, PFS and ORR. Paclitaxel was more effective than ixabepilone in terms of OS and PFS. There was no difference in the improvement of ORR, clinical benefit rate (CBR) and disease control rate (DCR) between ixabepilone and eribulin.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence suggests that a triweekly schedule of ixabepilone is more effective than weekly dosing in improving ORR. Use of ixabepilone in combination with capecitabine possesses superior clinical efficacy to the use of capecitabine alone. Paclitaxel was more effective than ixabepilone in terms of OS and PFS. The efficacy and safety between ixabepilone and eribulin were identical.

A meta-analysis of combination therapy versus single-agent therapy in anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer: results from nine randomized Phase III trials

Nowadays, the philosophy of treating metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is slowly evolving. Especially for the anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated MBC patients, no standard therapy exists in this setting. Whether to choose doublet agents or single agent as salvage treatment remains fiercely debated. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to resolve this problem. Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library were searched for Phase III randomized clinical trials (published before August 2015) comparing the efficacy and adverse effects between the combination therapy and single-agent therapy in anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated MBC patients. The primary end point was the overall survival (OS), and the secondary end points were the progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), and grade 3 or 4 toxicities. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) and pooled risk ratio (RR) were used to evaluate the efficacy. Analyses were also performed to estimate the side effects and safety of both groups. In all, nine eligible randomized clinical trials were included in this meta-analysis. Improvements were proven in the doublet agents group on OS (HR 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84–0.96, P=0.002), PFS (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.76–0.88, P<0.001), and ORR (RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.34–2.21, P<0.001). Notably, subgroup analysis failed to favor the targeted agent-based combination in terms of OS (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.89–1.31, P=0.365), PFS (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.88–1.35, P=0.433), and ORR (RR 1.60, 95% CI 0.69–3.71, P=0.278) compared with single agent. In addition, although more hematological and gastrointestinal toxicities were observed in the doublet agents group, they were acceptable and manageable. Taken together, when compared with single-agent therapy, doublet agents should be considered a treatment option because of the superior efficacy and the manageable safety profile for the prior anthracycline- and taxane-treated MBC patients.

Comparison of the effectiveness and toxicity of neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens, capecitabine/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide vs 5-fluorouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide, followed by adjuvant, capecitabine/docetaxel vs docetaxel, in patients with operable breast cancer

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and toxicity of neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens, xeloda/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (XEC) vs 5-fluorouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (FEC), followed by adjuvant chemotherapy regimens, capecitabine/taxotere (XT) vs taxotere (T), in axillary lymph node (LN)-positive early-stage breast cancer. In this randomized, Phase III trial, 137 patients with operable primary breast cancer (T2-0, N0-1) who were tested axillary LN positive through aspiration biopsy of axillary LNs were randomized (1:1) to four 3-weekly cycles of XEC or FEC. Patients underwent surgery within 4-6 weeks after the fourth cycle, followed by four adjuvant cycles of 3-weekly XT or T. The primary end point was tumor pathological complete response. Toxicity profiles were secondary objectives. In total, 131 patients had clinical and radiological evaluation of response and underwent surgery. Treatment with XEC led to an increased rate of pathological complete response in primary tumor (18% vs 6%, respectively, P=0.027) and objective remission rate (87% vs 73%, P=0.048) compared to FEC. Clinical complete response occurred in 20% and 7% for XEC and FEC, respectively. Compared to FEC, XEC was associated with more hand-foot syndrome (57% vs 11%, P<0.001) and 3/4 grade nausea/vomiting/diarrhea (30% vs 14%, P=0.034) but less phlebitis (3% vs 14%, P=0.035). XT and T adjuvant chemotherapy regimens were well tolerated: treatment-related 3/4 grade adverse events occurred in 28% and 17% of patients receiving XT and T, respectively.

Hormonal therapy might be a better choice as maintenance treatment than capecitabine after response to first-line capecitabine-based combination chemotherapy for patients with hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative, metastatic breast cancer

Background

Both hormonal therapy (HT) and maintenance capecitabine monotherapy (MCT) have been shown to extend time to progression (TTP) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) after failure of taxanes and anthracycline-containing regimens. However, no clinical trials have directly compared the efficacy of MCT and HT after response to first-line capecitabine-based combination chemotherapy (FCCT) in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 138 HR-positive and HER2-negative MBC patients who were in non-progression status after FCCT and who were treated between 2003 and 2012 at the Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, in Beijing, China. The median number of first-line chemotherapy cycles was 6 (range, 4–8); combined agents included taxanes, vinorelbine, or gemcitabine. Of these 138 patients, 79 received MCT, and 59 received HT. Single-agent capecitabine was administered at a dose of 1250 mg/m² twice daily for 14 days, followed by a 7-day rest period, repeated every 3 weeks. Of the 59 patients who received HT, 37 received aromatase inhibitors (AIs), 8 received selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), and 14 received goserelin plus either AIs or SERMs. We then compared the MCT group and HT group in terms of treatment efficacy.

Results

With a median follow-up of 43 months, patients in the HT group had a much longer TTP than patients in the MCT group (13 vs. 8 months, P = 0.011). When TTP was adjusted for age, menopausal status, Karnofsky performance status score, disease-free survival, site of metastasis, number of metastatic sites, and response status after FCCT, extended TTP was still observed for patients in the HT group (hazard ratio: 0.63; 95% confidence interval: 0.44–0.93; P = 0.020). We also observed a trend of overall survival advantage for patients in the HT group vs. patients in the MCT group, but the difference was not significant (43 vs. 37 months, P = 0.400). In addition, patients in the HT group generally tolerated the treatment well, whereas patients in the MCT group experienced grades 3–4 adverse events, the most frequent of which were hand-foot syndrome (15.8%) and hematologic abnormalities (7.6%).

Conclusion

For HR-positive and HER2-negative MBC patients, HT might be considered a treatment after response to FCCT but prior to MCT as a long-term administration.

Decreased gastrointestinal toxicity associated with a novel capecitabine schedule (7 days on and 7 days off): a systematic review

Capecitabine is widely used in the management of metastatic breast cancer; however, drug delivery is limited by gastrointestinal and other toxicity. We employed mathematical modeling to rationally design an optimized dose and schedule for capecitabine of 2,000 mg twice daily, flat dosing, 7 days on, 7 days off. Preclinical data suggested increased efficacy and tolerability with this novel dosing, and three early-phase clinical trials have suggested a favorable toxicity profile. To further define the tolerability of this regimen, we conducted a systematic review of the gastrointestinal adverse events of patients on these studies. This review demonstrated a favorable gastrointestinal toxicity profile with capecitabine in this novel schedule when given as single agent or in combination therapy with either bevacizumab or lapatinib. No patients discontinued therapy for gastrointestinal toxicity, and there were no grade 4 or 5 gastrointestinal toxicities reported. Grade 3 or greater diarrhea occurred in two (2%); grade 2 or greater mucositis, constipation, and vomiting were reported in three (4%) patients. We conclude that capecitabine administered on a 7 days on, 7 days off schedule has limited gastrointestinal toxicity. Our methodology was based on an analysis of individual patient toxicity data from one phase I single-agent capecitabine and two phase II capecitabine combination studies (with bevacizumab and lapatinib, respectively), focusing specifically on gastrointestinal toxicity.

A Review of Systemic Treatment in Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Patients with breast cancer along with metastatic estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR)- and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative tumors are referred to as having metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) disease. Although there have been many new treatment options approved by the Food and Drug Administration for ER/PR-positive and Her2/neu-amplified metastatic breast cancer, relatively few new agents have been approved for patients with mTNBC. There have been several head-to-head chemotherapy trials performed within the metastatic setting, and much of what is applied in clinical practice is extrapolated from chemotherapy trials in the adjuvant setting, with taxanes and anthracyclines incorporated early on in the patient's treatment course. Select synergistic combinations can produce faster and more significant response rates compared with monotherapy and are typically used in the setting of visceral threat or symptomatic disease. Preclinical studies have implicated other possible targets and mechanisms in mTNBC. Ongoing clinical trials are underway assessing new chemotherapeutic strategies and agents, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy. In this review, we evaluate the standard systemic and future treatment options in mTNBC.

Chemotherapy options for patients suffering from heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer

The identification of additional chemotherapy agents for anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated advanced breast cancer (ABC) is an urgent medical need. Single agent chemotherapy is most times administered because combined therapy is only associated with modest, if any, improvement in median progression-free survival. Randomized trials failed to show overall survival benefit compared with single agent chemotherapy. We hope to modify the natural history of ABC by the consecutive use of treatments with documented activity in heavily pretreated patients. Quality of life remains an important end point as cure is in general not possible. We first review the activity of the approved and the most frequently used agents in heavily pretreated ABC. Thereafter, the potential role and safety profile of etirinotecan pegol is discussed given the results recently released of a Phase III trial comparing this agent to Treatment of Physician's Choice.

A comparison of toxicity profiles between the lower and standard dose capecitabine in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) bid × 14 days every 21 days (14/21) has been reported to have similar efficacy but more favorable toxicity profile than the approved dosage of 1250 mg/m(2). However, a dose-toxicity relationship of capecitabine in breast cancer patients has not been fully elucidated. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare a safety profile between capecitabine starting dose of 1000 and 1250 mg/m(2) bid. Studies were identified using PubMed, ASCO, and San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium abstract databases through December 2015. Eligible trials included phase II/III trials of capecitabine monotherapy at 1000 or 1250 mg/m(2) bid (14/21) for breast cancer patients that reported adequate safety data for all (grade 1-4) or high (grade 3-4) grade hand foot syndrome (HFS), diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or anemia, as well as dose reductions, treatment discontinuation or treatment-related deaths. The summary incidence was calculated using random-effects models. A total of 4833 patients from 34 trials were included. 1218 and 3615 patients were treated with capecitabine 1000 and 1250 mg/m(2) bid, respectively. A significantly lower incidence of dose reduction (15.9 vs. 39.0 %; P = 0.007), high-grade HFS (12.0 vs. 19.0 %; P = 0.01), diarrhea (5.3 vs. 9.1 %; P = 0.01), and neutropenia (1.8 vs. 7.3 %; P < 0.01), and all-grade neutropenia (5.8 vs. 25.4 %; P = 0.01) was seen in capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) compared to 1250 mg/m(2). Capecitabine monotherapy at 1000 mg/m(2) bid (14/21) has a clinically meaningful and significantly better toxicity profile compared to 1250 mg/m(2) bid (14/21).

Pharmacokinetics of Selected Anticancer Drugs in Elderly Cancer Patients: Focus on Breast Cancer

Background: Elderly patients receiving anticancer drugs may have an increased risk to develop treatment-related toxicities compared to their younger peers. However, a potential pharmacokinetic (PK) basis for this increased risk has not consistently been established yet. Therefore, the objective of this study was to systematically review the influence of age on the PK of anticancer agents frequently administered to elderly breast cancer patients. Methods: A literature search was performed using the PubMed electronic database, Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) and available drug approval reviews, as published by EMA and FDA. Publications that describe age-related PK profiles of selected anticancer drugs against breast cancer, excluding endocrine compounds, were selected and included. Results: This review presents an overview of the available data that describe the influence of increasing age on the PK of selected anticancer drugs used for the treatment of breast cancer. Conclusions: Selected published data revealed differences in the effect and magnitude of increasing age on the PK of several anticancer drugs. There may be clinically-relevant, age-related PK differences for anthracyclines and platina agents. In the majority of cases, age is not a good surrogate marker for anticancer drug PK, and the physiological state of the individual patient may better be approached by looking at organ function, Charlson Comorbidity Score or geriatric functional assessment.

Docetaxel/S-1 Versus Docetaxel/Capecitabine as First-Line Treatment for Advanced Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Study

The treatment efficacy of advanced breast cancer is still not promising. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of docetaxel/S-1 (DS1) versus docetaxel/capecitabine (DX) as the first-line treatment for advanced breast cancer.From June 2008 to June 2013, 22 patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with the DS1 regimen. Another 26 age- and disease status-matched patients treated with the DX regimen served as controls. The 2 groups were compared in terms of time to progression (TTP), objective response rate, disease control rate, clinical benefit rate, and safety profiles.Median TTP did not differ significantly between the DS1 group and the DX group (9.04 vs 10.94 months, P = 0.473). There were no significant differences in objective response rate, disease control rate, and clinical benefit rate between the 2 groups. Both the DS1 and the DX regimens showed good tolerability. The 2 regimens showed no significant difference in adverse events except degree III hand-foot syndrome (DS1 0 vs DX 23.1%, P = 0.025).For the first-line treatment of advanced breast cancer, the DS1 and the DX regimens showed similar efficacy and safety. The DS1 regimen had less severe hand-foot syndrome than the DX regimen.

Chemotherapy Use, Performance Status, and Quality of Life at the End of Life

IMPORTANCE

Although many patients with end-stage cancer are offered chemotherapy to improve quality of life (QOL), the association between chemotherapy and QOL amid progressive metastatic disease has not been well-studied. American Society for Clinical Oncology guidelines recommend palliative chemotherapy only for solid tumor patients with good performance status.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between chemotherapy use and QOL near death (QOD) as a function of patients' performance status.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A multi-institutional, longitudinal cohort study of patients with end-stage cancer recruited between September 2002 and February 2008. Chemotherapy use (n = 158 [50.6%]) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status were assessed at baseline (median = 3.8 months before death) and patients with progressive metastatic cancer (N = 312) following at least 1 chemotherapy regimen were followed prospectively until death at 6 outpatient oncology clinics in the United States.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Patient QOD was determined using validated caregiver ratings of patients' physical and mental distress in their final week.

RESULTS

Chemotherapy use was not associated with patient survival controlling for clinical setting and patients' performance status. Among patients with good (ECOG score = 1) baseline performance status, chemotherapy use compared with nonuse was associated with worse QOD (odds ratio [OR], 0.35; 95% CI, 0.17-0.75; P = .01). Baseline chemotherapy use was not associated with QOD among patients with moderate (ECOG score = 2) baseline performance status (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.51-2.21; P = .87) or poor (ECOG score = 3) baseline performance status (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.46-3.89; P = .59).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Although palliative chemotherapy is used to improve QOL for patients with end-stage cancer, its use did not improve QOD for patients with moderate or poor performance status and worsened QOD for patients with good performance status. The QOD in patients with end-stage cancer is not improved, and can be harmed, by chemotherapy use near death, even in patients with good performance status.