Phase III Trial of Adjuvant Capecitabine After Standard Neo-/Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Early Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (GEICAM/2003-11_CIBOMA/2004-01)

PURPOSE

Operable triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) have a higher risk of relapse than non-TNBCs with standard therapy. The GEICAM/2003-11_CIBOMA/2004-01 trial explored extended adjuvant capecitabine after completion of standard chemotherapy in patients with early TNBC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eligible patients were those with operable, node-positive—or node negative with tumor 1 cm or greater—TNBC, with prior anthracycline- and/or taxane-containing chemotherapy. After central confirmation of TNBC status by immunohistochemistry, patients were randomly assigned to either capecitabine or observation. Stratification factors included institution, prior taxane-based therapy, involved axillary lymph nodes, and centrally determined phenotype (basal v nonbasal, according to cytokeratins 5/6 and/or epidermal growth factor receptor positivity by immunohistochemistry). The primary objective was to compare disease-free survival (DFS) between both arms.

RESULTS

Eight hundred seventy-six patients were randomly assigned to capecitabine (n = 448) or observation (n = 428). Median age was 49 years, 55.9% were lymph node negative, 73.9% had a basal phenotype, and 67.5% received previous anthracyclines plus taxanes. Median length of follow-up was 7.3 years. DFS was not significantly prolonged with capecitabine versus observation [hazard ratio (HR), 0.82; 95% CI, 0.63 to 1.06; P = .136]. In a preplanned subgroup analysis, nonbasal patients seemed to derive benefit from the addition of capecitabine with a DFS HR of 0.53 versus 0.94 in those with basal phenotype (interaction test P = .0694) and an HR for overall survival of 0.42 versus 1.23 in basal phenotype (interaction test P = .0052). Tolerance of capecitabine was as expected, with 75.2% of patients completing the planned 8 cycles.

CONCLUSION

This study failed to show a statistically significant increase in DFS by adding extended capecitabine to standard chemotherapy in patients with early TNBC. In a preplanned subset analysis, patients with nonbasal phenotype seemed to obtain benefit with capecitabine, although this will require additional validation.

Abstract GS2-04: Efficacy results from CIBOMA/2004-01_GEICAM/2003-11 study: A randomized phase III trial assessing adjuvant capecitabine after standard chemotherapy for patients with early triple negative breast cancer

Background: Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) have a greater risk of relapse than non-TNBC. New therapeutic approaches are needed for these patients (pts). CIBOMA/2004-01_GEICAM/2003-11 is a multinational, randomized phase III trial exploring adjuvant capecitabine (X) after completion of standard treatment in early TNBC pts.

Materials and Methods: Patients with operable, node-positive (or node-negative with tumor size ≥ 1 cm), centrally confirmed hormone receptor-negative, HER2-negative early BC, who had received 6–8 cycles (cy) of standard anthracycline and/or taxane-containing chemotherapy or 4 cy of doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide (for node-negative disease) in the (neo)adjuvant setting, were eligible. Patients were randomized to either 8 cy of X (1,000 mg/m2 bid, days 1–14, every 3 weeks) or observation. Stratification factors included center, prior taxane-based therapy, number of involved axillary lymph nodes and phenotype (basal vs non-basal, according to cytokeratins 5/6 and/or EGFR positivity). The primary objective was to compare the disease-free survival (DFS) between both treatment arms, and secondary objectives included the comparison in terms of 5-year DFS, overall survival (OS) and safety. Assuming a 30% risk reduction in DFS rate at 5 years (from 64.7% to 73.7%, hazard ratio 0.70) with 80% power and a two-tailed log-rank test at 0.05, 834 evaluable pts were needed. 876 pts had to be finally enrolled considering a drop-out rate of 5%.

Results: Recruitment of 876 pts from 8 countries was completed in September 2011. Median age was 49 years; 68.5% of pts were postmenopausal, 55.5% were lymph node negative, 71.7% had a basal phenotype, 67.5% received chemotherapy based on anthracyclines and taxanes. Median follow-up was 7.3 years (range 0.0 to 11.1). DFS was not significantly prolonged with X vs observation (hazard ratio (HR) 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.63 to 1.06; P=0.1353). Five-year DFS was 79.6% (95% CI, 75.8% to 83.4%) with X and 76.8% (95% CI, 72.7% to 80.9%) with observation. OS was not statistically different between treatment arms (HR 0.92; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.28; P=0.6228). In subgroup analysis for DFS, we found no statistically significant interaction between X treatment and different subgroups, with the exception of basal vs non-basal phenotypes (basal HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.32, P=0.8620; non-basal HR 0.51, 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.86, P=0.0101; interaction P=0.0357). Similar results were found for OS (basal HR 1.20, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.77, P=0.3684; non-basal HR 0.48, 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.91, P=0.0205; interaction P=0.0155). 75.2% of pts completed 8 cy of X, with a median relative dose intensity of 86.3%. Grade (G) 3 or higher adverse events (AEs) were observed in 40.4% of pts in X arm. In 9.6% of pts the AEs were related with X. Hand-foot syndrome was the most common AE in X arm (G3 on 18.8% of pts).

Conclusions: In our study, the addition of adjuvant X after standard (neo) adjuvant anthracycline and/or taxane-containing chemotherapy was not associated with a statistically significant improvement of DFS or OS compared to observation in pts with early TNBC. However, in a subgroup analysis a significant DFS and OS improvement was observed with X in pts with non-basal phenotype.

Sponsor: CIBOMA.

Citation Format: Martín M, Barrios CH, Torrecillas L, Ruiz-Borrego M, Bines J, Segalla J, Ruiz A, García-Sáenz JA, Torres R, de la Haba J, García E, Gómez HL, Llombart A, Rodríguez de la Borbolla M, Baena JM, Barnadas A, Calvo L, Pérez-Michel L, Ramos M, Castellanos J, Rodríguez-Lescure A, Cárdenas J, Vinholes J, Martínez de Dueñas E, Godes MJ, Seguí MA, Antón A, López-Álvarez P, Moncayo J, Amorim G, Villar E, Reyes S, Sampaio C, Cardemil B, Escudero MJ, Bezares S, Carrasco E, Lluch A. Efficacy results from CIBOMA/2004-01_GEICAM/2003-11 study: A randomized phase III trial assessing adjuvant capecitabine after standard chemotherapy for patients with early triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr GS2-04.

Phase II randomized study of trastuzumab emtansine versus trastuzumab plus docetaxel in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer

PURPOSE

Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), an antibody-drug conjugate composed of the cytotoxic agent DM1 conjugated to trastuzumab via a stable thioether linker, has shown clinical activity in single-arm studies enrolling patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) whose disease had progressed on HER2-targeted therapy in the metastatic setting.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients (N = 137) with HER2-positive MBC or recurrent locally advanced breast cancer were randomly assigned to trastuzumab plus docetaxel (HT; n = 70) or T-DM1 (n = 67) as first-line treatment until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary end points were investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) and safety. Key secondary end points included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), duration of objective response, clinical benefit rate, and quality of life.

RESULTS

Median PFS was 9.2 months with HT and 14.2 months with T-DM1 (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.97); median follow-up was approximately 14 months in both arms. ORR was 58.0% (95% CI, 45.5% to 69.2%) with HT and 64.2% (95% CI, 51.8% to 74.8%) with T-DM1. T-DM1 had a favorable safety profile versus HT, with fewer grade ≥ 3 adverse events (AEs; 46.4% v 90.9%), AEs leading to treatment discontinuations (7.2% v 34.8%), [corrected] and serious AEs (20.3% v 25.8%). Preliminary OS results were similar between treatment arms; median follow-up was approximately 23 months in both arms.

CONCLUSION

In this randomized phase II study, first-line treatment with T-DM1 for patients with HER2-positive MBC provided a significant improvement in PFS, with a favorable safety profile, versus HT.

Adjuvant docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide in node-positive breast cancer: 10-year follow-up of the phase 3 randomised BCIRG 001 trial

BACKGROUND

We compared standard adjuvant anthracycline chemotherapy with anthracycline-taxane combination chemotherapy in women with operable node-positive breast cancer. Here we report the final, 10-year follow-up analysis of disease-free survival, overall survival, and long-term safety.

METHODS

BCIRG 001 was an open label, phase 3, multicentre trial in which 1491 patients aged 18-70 years with node-positive, early breast cancer and a Karnofsky score of 80% or more were randomly assigned to adjuvant treatment with docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) or fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) every 3 weeks for six cycles. Randomisation was stratified according to institution and number of involved axillary lymph nodes per patient (one to three vs four or more). Disease-free survival was the primary endpoint and was defined as the interval between randomisation and breast cancer relapse, second primary cancer, or death, whichever occurred first. Efficacy analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle. BCIRG 001 is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00688740.

FINDINGS

Enrolement took place between June 11, 1997 and June 3, 1999; 745 patients were assigned to receive TAC and 746 patients were assigned to receive FAC. After a median follow-up of 124 months (IQR 90-126), disease-free survival was 62% (95% CI 58-65) for patients in the TAC group and 55% (51-59) for patients in the FAC group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·80, 95% CI 0·68-0·93; log-rank p=0·0043). 10-year overall survival was 76% (95% CI 72-79) for patients in the TAC group and 69% (65-72) for patients in the FAC group (HR 0·74, 0·61-0·90; log-rank p=0·0020). TAC improved disease-free survival relative to FAC irrespective of nodal, hormone receptor, and HER2 status, although not all differences were significant in these subgroup analyses. Grade 3-4 heart failure occurred in 26 (3%) patients in the TAC group and 17 (2%) patients in the FAC group, and caused death in two patients in the TAC group and four patients in the FAC group. A substantial decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (defined as a relative decrease from baseline of 20% or more) was seen in 58 (17%) patients who received TAC and 41 (15%) patients who received FAC. Six patients who received TAC developed leukaemia or myelodysplasia, as did three patients who received FAC.

INTERPRETATION

Our results provide evidence that the initial therapeutic outcomes seen at the 5-year follow-up with a docetaxel-containing adjuvant regimen are maintained at 10 years. However, a substantial percentage of patients had a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction, probably caused by anthracycline therapy, which warrants further investigation.

FUNDING

Sanofi.

First-line bevacizumab-containing therapy for breast cancer: results in patients aged≥70 years treated in the ATHENA study

BACKGROUND

There are limited data on treatment outcomes in the growing population of elderly patients with locally recurrent/metastatic breast cancer (LR/mBC). To gain information on first-line bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy in the elderly, we analyzed data from the ATHENA trial in routine oncology practice.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative LR/mBC received first-line bevacizumab with standard chemotherapy until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or physician/patient decision. We carried out a subgroup analysis of safety and efficacy in patients aged≥70 years. Possible correlations between tolerability and baseline comorbidities or Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status were explored.

RESULTS

Bevacizumab was combined with single-agent paclitaxel in 46% of older patients. Only hypertension and proteinuria were more common in older than in younger patients (grade≥3 hypertension: 6.9% versus 4.2%, respectively; grade≥3 proteinuria: 4.0% versus 1.5%, respectively). Grade≥3 arterial/venous thromboembolism occurred in 2.9% versus 3.3%, respectively. Further analysis revealed no relationship between baseline presence and severity of hypertension and risk of developing hypertension during bevacizumab-containing therapy. Median time to progression was 10.4 months in patients aged≥70 years.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that bevacizumab-containing therapy is tolerable and active in patients aged≥70 years. Hypertension was more common than in younger patients but was manageable. We find no evidence precluding the use of bevacizumab in older patients, including those with hypertension, although age may influence chemotherapy choice.

Adjuvant docetaxel for node-positive breast cancer

BACKGROUND

We compared docetaxel plus doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (TAC) with fluorouracil plus doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (FAC) as adjuvant chemotherapy for operable node-positive breast cancer.

METHODS

We randomly assigned 1491 women with axillary node-positive breast cancer to six cycles of treatment with either TAC or FAC as adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. The primary end point was disease-free survival.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 55 months, the estimated rates of disease-free survival at five years were 75 percent among the 745 patients randomly assigned to receive TAC and 68 percent among the 746 randomly assigned to receive FAC, representing a 28 percent reduction in the risk of relapse (P=0.001) in the TAC group. The estimated rates of overall survival at five years were 87 percent and 81 percent, respectively. Treatment with TAC resulted in a 30 percent reduction in the risk of death (P=0.008). The incidence of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was 65.5 percent in the TAC group and 49.3 percent in the FAC group (P<0.001); rates of febrile neutropenia were 24.7 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively (P<0.001). Grade 3 or 4 infections occurred in 3.9 percent of the patients who received TAC and 2.2 percent of those who received FAC (P=0.05); no deaths occurred as a result of infection. Two patients in each group died during treatment. Congestive heart failure and acute myeloid leukemia occurred in less than 2 percent of the patients in each group. Quality-of-life scores decreased during chemotherapy but returned to baseline levels after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant chemotherapy with TAC, as compared with FAC, significantly improves the rates of disease-free and overall survival among women with operable node-positive breast cancer.

Radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer

The aim was to assess the response to the treatment using thermal radiofrequency ablation in patients with pelvic recurrent rectal cancer. The location of the lesions as well as the placement of the percutaneous probe were guided by computed tomography. All ablations were performed with a RITA Medical Systems Starburst XL (nine-array, 5-cm) thermal ablation catheter and the Model 1500 generator (RITA Medical Systems, Inc.). The radiofrequency ablation treatment was performed in two patients with pelvic recurrent rectal cancer with poor response to chemoradiotherapy with no indication of new surgical treatment and suffering strong pain in the sacrum area. The serum carcinoembryonic antigen had a sharp reduction in a sixty-day period. The post-procedure tomography analysis showed the center of the tumor with necrosis and a ring of edema around it. Both patients had no complaints about the procedure, and they needed to take mild analgesics only on the first day right after the procedure for pain. In the follow-up one patient developed an abscess and needed to be readmitted but without recurrent pelvic pain. An effective response was shown by tumor necrosis and total relief of pain of the sacrum area.

Preoperative treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer patients with letrozole: A randomized double-blind multicenter study

BACKGROUND

A randomized, double-blind, multicenter study was conducted to compare the anti-tumor activity of letrozole vs. tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with ER and/or PgR positive primary untreated breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Three hundred thirty-seven postmenopausal women with ER and/or PgR positive primary untreated breast cancer were randomly assigned once daily treatment with either letrozole 2.5 mg or tamoxifen 20 mg for four months. At baseline none of the patients were considered to be candidates for breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and 14% of the patients were considered inoperable. The primary endpoint was to compare overall objective response (CR + PR) determined by clinical palpation. Secondary endpoints included overall objective response on ultrasound and mammography and the number of patients who qualified for BCS.

RESULTS

Overall objective response rate (clinical palpation) was statistically significantly superior in the letrozole group, 55% compared to tamoxifen, 36% (P < 0.001). Secondary endpoints of ultrasound response, 35% vs. 25% (P = 0.042), mammographic response, 34% vs. 16% (P < 0.001), and BCS, 45% vs. 35% (P = 0.022) between the letrozole and tamoxifen groups, respectively, showed letrozole to be significantly superior. Both treatments were well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that letrozole is more effective than tamoxifen as preoperative therapy in postmenopausal patients with ER and/or PgR positive primary untreated breast cancer and is at least as well tolerated.

Assessment of bone response to systemic therapy in an EORTC trial: preliminary experience with the use of collagen cross-link excretion. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer

This study was designed to evaluate new bone resorption and tumour markers as possible alternatives to serial plain radiographs for the assessment of response to treatment. Thirty-seven patients with newly diagnosed bone metastases from breast cancer, randomized to receive oral pamidronate or placebo tablets in addition to anticancer treatment within the context of a multicentre EORTC trial, who were both assessable for radiographic response in bone and had serum and urine samples collected for more than 1 month were studied. The markers of bone metabolism measured included urinary calcium (uCa), hydroxyproline (hyp), the N-telopeptide cross-links of type I collagen (NTx) and total alkaline phosphatase. The tumour markers measured were CA15-3 and cancer-associated serum antigen (CASA). Before treatment, levels of Ntx, uCa and Hyp were elevated in 41%, 24% and 28% respectively, and CA15-3 and CASA increased in 69% and 50%. For assessment of response and identification of progression, Ntx was the most useful bone marker. All markers behaved similarly in no change (NC) and partial response (PR) patients. There was a significant difference (P < or = 0.05) in Ntx levels (compared to baseline) at 1 and 4 months and in CA15-3/CASA at 4 months between patients with PR or NC and those with progressive disease (PD), and at 4 months between those with time to progression (TP) > 7 and those with TP < or = 7 months. The diagnostic efficiency (DE) for prediction of PD following a > 50% increase in Ntx or CA15-3 was 78% and 62% respectively. An algorithm to predict response to therapy has been developed for future prospective evaluation.

Vorozole (Rivizor): an active and well tolerated new aromatase inhibitor for the treatment of advanced breast cancer patients with prior tamoxifen exposure. Investigational Drug Branch of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Breast Cancer Cooperative Group

Vorozole (Rivizor) is a potent and stereospecific inhibitor of aromatase having shown promising endocrine effects in phase I studies. In the present trial, 27 postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer, measurable lesions, presumably hormone responsive (ER or PR+, or ER? with disease-free survival longer than 1 year, or prior documented response to tamoxifen), were treated with vorozole one tablet 2.5 mg daily. All had been previously treated with tamoxifen as adjuvant (two patients) or for advanced disease (24 patients), or both (one patient). Objective remissions were observed in eight patients (30%) with two complete responses (CR) and six partial responses (PR) lasting for a median of 14.3 months (range 6.8-40.6); nine stabilizations were also recorded (median 7.9 months; range 3.7-40.1). Median time to progression for the 27 patients was 5.9 months. Sites of response were skin (three patients), lymph nodes (two patients), lung (two patients) and chest wall plus lymph nodes (one patient). Treatment was very well tolerated: mild hot flushes (four patients), gastrointestinal complaints (four patients) and no significant toxicity (common toxicity criteria grade above 2) or drug-related severe adverse event. It is concluded that vorozole is an active second-line endocrine treatment, deserving consideration for randomized comparison with other agents such as aminoglutethimide, megestrol acetate or medroxyprogesterone acetate.

Evaluation of new bone resorption markers in a randomized comparison of pamidronate or clodronate for hypercalcemia of malignancy

PURPOSE

To compare the effects of two bisphosphonates on markers of bone resorption in a randomized double-blind trial for the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-two patients with a serum calcium (sCa) level > or = 2.7 mmol/L that persisted after 48 hours of saline rehydration were randomized to receive pamidronate 90 mg or clodronate 1,500 mg. Bone resorption markers measured included urinary calcium (uCa), hydroxyproline (Hyp), deoxypyridinoline (Dpd), pyridinoline (Pyd), the cross-linking molecule at either the N-telopeptide (NTx) or the C-telopeptide (Crosslaps) regions of type I collagen, and free Dpd.

RESULTS

Both bisphosphonates restored normocalcemia, but the duration of action was longer after pamidronate (P < .01). There was a mean pretreatment sevenfold increase in NTx, fivefold increase in Dpd and Crosslaps, and 2.5-fold increase in free Dpd. The changes in uCa were confounded by an increase in parathyroid hormone (PTH) (P < .05), which, through effects on the kidney, inhibits calcium excretion. Most resorption markers showed a larger decrease after pamidronate than clodronate (P < .01). NTx and Crosslaps showed the greatest decrease, being significantly different from any other marker in both arms (P < .01). There was a significant correlation between Dpd, NTx, and Crosslaps (P < .002), but not with uCa.

CONCLUSION

The superiority of pamidronate in controlling hypercalcemia is mirrored by the changes observed in these markers. uCa is not an accurate bone resorption marker, which reflects the renal handling of calcium by PTH. NTx and Crosslaps showed the largest increase at baseline and the greatest change after treatment, which suggests these new markers may be more sensitive indicators of bone resorption.

Metabolic effects of pamidronate in patients with metastatic bone disease

We have evaluated the value of specific bone resorption markers in monitoring metastatic bone disease to define the duration of action of a single high-dose pamidronate infusion. Twenty patients received a single infusion of pamidronate 120 mg for painful bone metastases. Ten out of these 20 patients also received a second infusion. They were evaluated at baseline, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after each infusion. A composite pain questionnaire, serum and urine tests were carried out at these time points. Bone resorption markers measured included urinary calcium, hydroxyproline and two new markers: pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline. Reference values were defined by 20 healthy controls matched by age and sex. Pamidronate induced a profound fall in bone resorption with a maximal effect within the first month after therapy. Changes in urinary calcium levels were confounded by a rise of 100% in the parathyroid hormone levels. Before treatment, pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline were increased in 70% of patients, while urinary calcium was increased in only 40% of them. Thirteen patients had a > or = 50% fall in deoxypyridinoline levels and were considered as biochemical responders. These patients had a mean reduction in pain score of about 30% of baseline levels, which was significantly higher than the seven non-biochemical responders. In conclusion, urinary calcium is not a precise marker of bone resorption. Deoxypyridinoline seems to be the most specific bone resorption marker in cancer patients. Biochemical responders have the most benefit from pamidronate in terms of pain relief. This suggests that patients may benefit from more potent or repeated infusions of bisphosphonates.

Phase II study of teniposide in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma

Antitumour activity of cytotoxic agents, evaluated in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), is about 30-80%. However, responses are mostly partial and short. Experience with etoposide is similar. Teniposide has a longer elimination half-life and superior antitumour activity compared with etoposide in some experimental models. Thus a phase II trial was done in 25 patients with AIDS-related KS. Teniposide was given by 60-min infusion at 360 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. 10 (40%) showed a partial response, median duration of 9 (6-20) weeks. The main side-effects were leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea and vomiting, alopecia and mucositis.