Ki67 Expression and Docetaxel Efficacy in Patients With Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer

Purpose

The indications of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with estrogen receptor (ER) –positive breast cancer are controversial. We analyzed the predictive value of Ki67, HER2, and progesterone receptor (PR) expression for the efficacy of docetaxel in patients with ER-positive, node-positive breast cancer.

Patients and Methods

Expression of Ki67, HER2, and PR was measured by immunohistochemistry in tumor samples from 798 patients with ER-positive breast cancer who participated in PACS01, a randomized trial that evaluated the efficacy of docetaxel. Risk reduction was evaluated using a Cox model adjusted for age, tumor size, nodal involvement, treatment arm, and biomarkers. The predictive value of biomarkers was assessed by an interaction test. Disease-free survival (DFS) was the primary end point.

Results

Ki67, HER2, and PR were expressed in 21%, 9%, and 62% of samples, respectively. Hazard ratios for relapse associated with docetaxel were 0.51 (95% CI, 0.26 to 1.01) in ER-positive/Ki67-positive tumors and 1.03 (95% CI, 0.69 to 1.55) in ER-positive/Ki67-negative tumors (ratio for interaction: 0.53; 95% CI, 0.24 to 1.16; P = .11). Five-year DFS rates were 81% (95% CI, 76% to 86%) and 84% (95% CI, 75% to 93%) in patients with ER-positive/Ki67-negative and ER-positive/Ki67-positive tumors treated with docetaxel and 81% (95% CI, 76% to 86%) and 62% (95% CI, 52% to 72%) in patients with ER-positive/Ki67-negative and ER-positive/Ki67-positive tumors treated with fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cisplatin. No trend for interaction was observed between docetaxel and HER2 (ratio for interaction: 0.83; 95% CI, 0.35 to 1.94; P = .66), nor between docetaxel and PR (ratio for interaction: 0.89; 95% CI, 0.47 to 1.66; P = .71).

Conclusion

Ki67 expression identifies a subset of patients with ER-positive breast cancer who could be sensitive to docetaxel treatment in the adjuvant setting.

GEP01: A phase I study of lapatinib (L) and vinorelbine (VNR) in HER2 overexpressing (HER2+) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (LAMBC) patients (pts): A FNCLCC Group of early phase trials study

1051

Background: Lapatinib is an effective anti-HER-2 therapy in LAMBC pts, currently investigated in the adjuvant setting. Following anthracyclines, taxanes and capecitabine, VNR is an active agent in metastatic setting. Its main toxicity consists of neutropenia and may challenge the standard weekly, day D1 and D8 regimen. We investigated the combination of L + VNR, seeking the recommended dose for further phase II studies and the potential pharmacokinetic (PK) interactions. Methods: Women with a HER-2+ LAMBC, in progression after ≤ 2 lines of trastuzumab-based treatment were treated with a 7D (D-7 to D0) loading dose of L before starting VNR on a D1 and D8 q3w IV regimen. L was given orally continuously. Primary prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia (FN) with G-CSF was not permitted. Dose levels (DL, L [mg]/VNR [mg/m2]) ranged from 750/20 to 1250/30 with 3 pts/DL (6 in case of dose-limiting toxicity [DLT]). DLT was defined on tolerance at cycle 1 and included grade (gr) 4 neutropenia (PN) ≥ 7D, FN, thrombocytopenia (gr4 or symptomatic gr3), omission of D8 for haematological toxicity, and any drug-related gr3–4 non-haematological toxicity. PK samples were collected on 7 points on D1 of cycle 1 for L and VNR dosages. Results: From August 2007 to December 2008, 15 evaluable pts were enrolled (median age 58 [46–75], 43% PS 0, 8 pts previously exposed to only 1 line of trastuzumab) and 65 cycles were administered. Toxicity is available for 13 pts. Of 3 pts treated at DL4 (1000/25), 2 developed a DLT: 1 FN and 1 gr4 PN > 7D. Other significant toxicities (% pts) included gr2 anaemia 8%, gr4 PN 46%, gr1 diarrhoea 62%, gr2 nausea/vomiting 8%, gr1 skin rash 23%, gr2 transaminases 23%; no decrease of cardiac function occurred. From DL1 to DL3 (750/20, 1000/22.5), total body clearance of VNR decreased by 50% (32 ± 19 L/h vs 17 ± 7 L/h). Conclusions: Maximal tolerated dose has been reached at 1000/22.5 for the combination of L with VNR given on a D1 and D8 q3w schedule. Given a potential PK interference which would yield to higher exposure to VNR, an intermediate DL is going to be explored (1250/22.5) to allow an accurate definition of the recommanded dose of the combination for future phase II comparison studies.

[Table: see text]

Prognostic value of the genomic grade index (GGi) as compared to centrally measured Ki-67 IHC and mitotic index in early breast cancer patients

11094

Background: Genomic grading has been proposed to improve tumor grading. The genomic grade index (GGi) is a 97-gene continuous measure which resolves 80% of histological grade 2 (HG 2) tumors into HG 1 and HG 3 risk categories. GGi has higher prognostic value than HG in patients treated with and without systemic adjuvant endocrine and chemotherapy. A key issue is whether the GGi adds prognostic information to centrally-determined mitotic index and Ki-67 IHC. Methods: The control arm of the PACS 01 trial included 996 women with node-positive (N+) early breast cancer treated with six cycles of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) and tamoxifen as required. 128 genomic profiles could be obtained from available frozen tumor samples using Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 gene chips through the “Carte d'Identite des Tumeurs” program of the French Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer. The Genomic Grade index (GGi) was computed using Ipsogen MapQuant Dx(R). Central Elston-Ellis grade, mitotic index (mitosis / mm2), and Ki-67 IHC (% positive cells) were available for 125 patients. The GGi and histological parameters were correlated to the 5-year metastasis status (MFS-5) by ROC analysis and to the metastasis hazard (follow-up of 6.2 ± years) by Cox regression. Results: In ER+ patients (n=93), the GGi was the only significant correlate to metastasis hazard in multivariate Cox regression with histological parameters (HR = 3.5 [1.7–7.5], p<0.001). It was the best predictor of MFS-5 (ROC AUC = 0.83, p=1E-6) when compared to histological parameters (ROC AUC = 0.71, 0.72 and 0.66 resp. p=0.003 to 0.03). In HG 2 subgroup (n=43), the GGi was the only significant predictor of MFS-5 (ROC AUC = 0.81, p=0.016). Conclusions: In our sample of N+ ER+ breast cancer patients, the GGi improved prognostication compared to centrally-measured mitotic index and Ki-67 IHC used alone and in combination. Moreover, the GGi was the only prognostic factor in histological grade 2 patients.

[Table: see text]

Treatability of patients with metastatic breast cancer after treatment by ixabepilone in first-line

e12030

Background: Ixabepilone (BMS-247550), an epothilone B analog, was an active drug in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients who were anthracycline pretreated. The main toxicity was mild to moderate neuropathy which was primarily sensory and mostly reversible. This study was performed to evaluate retrospectively the treatability of patients after discontinuation of ixabepilone given as first metastatic line in 2 institutions. Methods: From February 2001 to December 2002, 50 patients (median age 54 years) were enrolled in a phase II clinical trial evaluating ixabepilone as first line chemotherapy (CT) in MBC. Fifteen patients were treated by 50 mg/m2 (as a 1-hour infusion subsequently amended as a 3-hour infusion), and 34 received ixabepilone at 40 mg/m2 IV infusion during 3 hours every 3 weeks in response to the early safety findings. Neurotoxicity occurred in 38 patients (76%) leading to treatment discontinuation in 19 patients (38%). The description of subsequent treatments after ixabepilone was realized to detect eventual cross resistance and subsequent neurotoxicity. Results: Patients received a median number of 3 subsequent CT (range, 0–11) whatever the ixabepilone dosage. The median duration of subsequent CT lines after ixabepilone was of 3.6 months (range, 0–15.6 months). Patients who developed neurotoxicity received a median of 3 subsequents CT (range, 0–9), and those who did not, received a median of 1.5 subsequent lines. Forty-four patients received a second metastatic CT with different regimens stratified according the main cytotoxic agents, which were capecitabine in 54.5% of patients, taxane in 18.2%, and vinorelbine in 15.9%. At third line of metastatic CT (n = 37), taxane based regimen, capecitabine based regimen, and vinorelbine based regimen were administered respectively in 45.9%, 16.2%, and 13.5%. Median survival from first administration of ixabepilone was of 25.3 months (range, 0.2–89.2 months). After ixabepilone treatment, best response rate of subsequent CT was of 18.4%, and neurotoxicity was observed in 42.1%. Conclusions: In spite of neurotoxicity development with ixabepilone used as first metastatic line, the administration of subsequent lines of CT for treated MBC, especially with taxane based regimen, was normally possible.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Multicenter phase II study of lapatinib in patients with brain metastases from HER2-positive breast cancer

PURPOSE

Brain metastases develop in one third of patients with advanced HER2+ breast cancer. Effective therapy for patients with central nervous system (CNS) progression after cranial radiation is extremely limited and represents a major clinical challenge. Lapatinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor/HER2 inhibitor, was associated with regressions of CNS lesions in a small phase 2 trial. The current study was done to further evaluate the CNS activity of lapatinib. The study was later amended to allow patients who progressed on lapatinib the option of receiving lapatinib plus capecitabine.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Eligible patients had HER2+ breast cancer, progressive brain metastases, prior trastuzumab, and cranial radiotherapy. The primary end point was CNS objective response, defined as >or=50% volumetric reduction of CNS lesion(s) in the absence of increasing steroid use, progressive neurologic signs and symptoms, or progressive extra-CNS disease.

RESULTS

Two-hundred and forty-two patients entered the study. CNS objective responses to lapatinib were observed in 6% of patients. In an exploratory analysis, 21% of patients experienced a >or=20% volumetric reduction in their CNS lesions. An association was observed between volumetric reduction and improvement in progression-free survival and neurologic signs and symptoms. Of the 50 evaluable patients who entered the lapatinib plus capecitabine extension, 20% experienced a CNS objective response and 40% experienced a >or=20% volumetric reduction in their CNS lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the modest CNS antitumor activity of lapatinib. Additional responses were observed with the combination of lapatinib and capecitabine. Further studies of lapatinib-based regimens for CNS metastases from HER2+ breast cancer are warranted.

A 38-gene expression signature to predict metastasis risk in node-positive breast cancer after systemic adjuvant chemotherapy: a genomic substudy of PACS01 clinical trial

Currently, no prognostic gene-expression signature (GES) established from node-positive breast cancer cohorts, able to predict evolution after systemic adjuvant chemotherapy, exists. Gene-expression profiles of 252 node-positive breast cancer patients (median follow-up: 7.7 years), mostly included in a randomized clinical trial (PACS01), receiving systemic adjuvant regimen, were determined by means of cDNA custom array. In the training cohort, we established a GES composed of 38 genes (38-GES) for the purpose of predicting metastasis-free survival. The 38-GES yielded unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 4.86 (95% confidence interval = 2.76-8.56). Even when adjusted with the best two clinicopathological prognostic indexes: Nottingham prognostic index (NPI) and Adjuvant!, 38-GES HRs were 3.30 (1.81-5.99) and 3.40 (1.85-6.24), respectively. Furthermore, 38-GES improved NPI and Adjuvant! classification. In particular, NPI intermediate-risk patients were divided into 2/3 close to low-risk group and 1/3 close to high-risk group (HR = 6.97 [2.51-19.36]). Similarly, Adjuvant! intermediate-risk patients were divided into 2/3 close to low-risk group and 1/3 close to high-risk group (HR = 4.34 [1.64-11.48]). The 38-GES was validated on gene-expression datasets from three external node-positive breast cancer subcohorts (n = 224) generated from different microarray platforms, with HR = 2.95 (1.74-5.01). Moreover, 38-GES showed prognostic performance in supplementary cohorts with different lymph-node status and endpoints (1,040 new patients). The 38-GES represents a robust tool able to type systemic adjuvant treated node-positive patients at high risk of metastatic relapse, and is especially powerful to refine NPI and Adjuvant! classification for those patients.

Deterioration of quality of life of high-risk breast cancer patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy: the PEGASE 01 Quality of Life Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life (QOL) of high-risk breast cancer patients included in a randomized clinical trial (PEGASE 01) comparing conventional chemotherapy versus adding an additional high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) cycle with blood stem cell support.

METHODS

A total of 314 patients were included in the clinical trial. QOL evaluations were available for 199 patients. QOL was assessed over a 1-year follow-up period, using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C-30. The results were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model.

RESULTS

Toxicity of HDC has a strong negative impact on patients' QOL during the treatment phase. This negative impact tended to last longer in the HDC group, as for most of the QLQ-C30 scales, the QOL scores of HDC patients tend to improve at a slower rate than that of patients receiving standard chemotherapy. In particular, physical functioning remains deteriorated 1 year after inclusion for HDC patients comparatively to conventional chemotherapy patients (85.99 vs. 76.65, P = 0.021), and the pain score was still higher in the HDC group at that time (28.32 vs. 15.97, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

HDC has a negative impact on QOL even after treatment phase. In the absence of an overall survival benefit of using HDC for high-risk breast cancer patients, QOL studies with a longer follow-up play an important role in informing the complex trade-off implied by HDC between higher toxicity, reduced risk of relapse, and QOL decrease after the active phase of treatment.

Decision-making and breast cancer clinical trialsHow experience challenges attitudes

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to measure women's preferences about decision-making and their impact to participate or not to a hypothetical randomised controlled trial (RCT).

METHODS

We surveyed prospectively breast cancer patients invited to participate in a clinical RCT (group 1a=201 acceptances, group 1b=66 refusals) or not invited (group 2=188). All women had the same treatment.

RESULTS

Decision-making preferences of patients who had refused clinical RCT entry were more patient's centred (72.3%) compared to those of patients who accepted (35.0%, P<0.001). Altruism was not a significant determinant of patients' participation. Randomisation was considered acceptable in 52.0% (group 1a) compared to 16.9% and 21.1% for group 1b or group 2, respectively (P<0.001). It was the main predictor of willingness to participate in a hypothetical RCT (adjusted odds ratio (OR(adj)) 4.6; 95% confidence interval [2.7-7.7]; P<0.001) with the patient group allocation (OR(adj) group 1a=5.0 [2.9-8.7]; group 1b=0.2 [0.0-0.8]; group 2=1 [referent]; P<0.001). After multivariate adjustment, willingness to participate was also significantly related with medical decision-making preferences (OR(adj) 2.2 [1.0-4.9]; P=0.045), with the feeling of being unable to refuse a doctor's proposal (OR(adj) 1.8 [1.1-3.2]; P=0.031), and with satisfaction with doctors' communication (OR(adj) 3.1 [1.5-7.8]; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients' acceptance to participate in a RCT is preferred to be doctor's decision, whereas refusal is a personal one. When proposing a RCT, doctors must deal with patients' a priori negative feelings about randomisation. They should thoroughly discuss the reasons for and importance of randomisation as well as the other aspects of participating in the trial in order to give patients all of the information they need to make an informed decision.

Joint pain with aromatase inhibitors: abnormal frequency of Sjögren's syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Since the results of the ATAC study, women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer and who require adjuvant hormone therapy are often treated with aromatase inhibitors. With these treatments, joint pain is frequent (30% to 40%) and quite often disabling (5% to 10%). Our objective was to investigate the origin of the pain induced by the anti-aromatases.

METHODS

Twenty-four women of mean age 59 years with joint pain of > 5/10 on a visual analog scale underwent a rheumatological consultation and systematic laboratory tests.

RESULTS

In 5 patients, pain was considered to have a well defined cause: osteoarthritis, shoulder tendinitis, or paraneoplastic aponeurositis. The other 19 patients had inflammatory pain of the fingers, wrists, shoulders, forefeet, ankles, or knees, with slight synovial thickening of the PIP and MCP joints. Two had an inflammatory syndrome on laboratory tests. Nine of these patients had antinuclear antibodies (ANA > 1/160 on HEp-2 cells) and 4 had rheumatoid factors (> 20 U). Ten patients had sicca syndrome of the eyes or mouth, 7 had probable Sjögren's syndrome according to the San Diego criteria, and one had definite Sjögren's syndrome. One had rheumatoid arthritis, one had Hashimoto thyroiditis, and 2 had positive hepatitis C serology.

CONCLUSION

Is the almost total estrogen depletion induced by aromatase inhibitors conducive to the development of sicca syndromes with ANA? Our results should be considered in relation to the Sjögren-like syndromes occurring in aromatase knock-out mice as recently reported.

Assessment of Care by Breast Cancer Patients Participating or Not Participating in a Randomized Controlled Trial: A Report With the Patients' Committee for Clinical Trials of the Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer

Purpose

Cancer patients participating in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have not been found to have better clinical outcomes than other patients. Our objective was to assess the impact of RCTs on patients' satisfaction with care.

Patients and Methods

A prospective study was carried out in a cohort of women with breast cancer (N = 455) divided into those invited to participate in an RCT (201 acceptances, 66 refusals) and a comparable control group not invited to participate (n = 188). All the patients underwent the same treatment (fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide 100 mg/m2 for six cycles). One and 7 months after the beginning of chemotherapy, self-administered satisfaction scores were used to compare the women's assessment of their care (Comprehensive Assessment of Satisfaction with Care validated scale).

Results

At the beginning of chemotherapy, women to whom RCT had been proposed rated the doctors' availability (average ± standard deviation [SD]: RCT acceptance group, 3.60 ± 0.78; RCT refusal group, 3.68 ± 0.87; control group, 3.41 ± 0.82; P ≤ .02) and the doctors' communication (average ± SD: RCT acceptance group, 3.56 ± 0.88; RCT refusal group, 3.67 ± 0.88; control group, 3.39 ± 0.84; P ≤ .05) higher than those to whom the trial was not proposed. After the treatment, participants in the RCT felt that their doctor was more supportive (average ± SD: RCT acceptance group, 3.04 ± 0.92; control group, 2.77 ± 0.85; P = .005) and more informative about their illness and treatment (average ± SD: RCT acceptance group, 3.34 ± 0.88; control group, 3.08 ± 0.92; P = .006) than those in the control group. The general level of satisfaction was also higher in the RCT acceptance group.

Conclusion

Women participating in an RCT have a more positive picture of their doctors' care than others, probably because of the structural effects of the informed consent and data collection processes.

Phase II clinical trial of ixabepilone (BMS-247550), an epothilone B analog, as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracycline chemotherapy

PURPOSE

There is a need for new agents to treat metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in patients for whom anthracycline therapy has failed or is contraindicated. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of the novel antineoplastic, the epothilone B analog ixabepilone, in patients with MBC previously treated with an adjuvant anthracycline.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were age >or= 18 years and had received a prior anthracycline-based regimen as adjuvant treatment. Ixabepilone as first-line metastatic chemotherapy was administered as a 40 mg/m(2) intravenous infusion during 3 hours every 3 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary efficacy end points included duration of response, time to response, time to progression, and survival.

RESULTS

All 65 patients were assessable for response. Their median age was 52 years (range, 33 to 80 years). ORR was 41.5% (95% CI, 29.4% to 54.4%), median duration of response was 8.2 months (95% CI, 5.7 to 10.2 months), and median time to response was 6 weeks (range, 5 to 17 weeks). Median survival was 22.0 months (95% CI, 15.6 to 27.0 months). Treatment-related adverse events were manageable and mostly grades 1/2: the most common of these (other than alopecia) was mild to moderate neuropathy, which was primarily sensory and mostly reversible in nature.

CONCLUSION

Ixabepilone is efficacious and has a predictable and manageable safety profile in women with MBC previously treated with an adjuvant anthracycline.

Clinical pharmacodynamic factors in docetaxel toxicity

Neutropenia is the main dose-limiting toxicity occurring in docetaxel treatment. The objective of this study was to identify pharmacodynamic (PD) factors responsible for the neutropaenia caused by docetaxel. Data were obtained from 92 patients treated with docetaxel as a monochemotherapy in two different treatment centres. A semiphysiological population pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model was applied to describe the time course of neutrophils and the neutropaenic effect of docetaxel. The plasma docetaxel concentration was assumed to inhibit the proliferation of neutrophil precursors through a linear model: Drug effect=Slope × Conc. Slope corresponds to the patients’ sensitivity to the neutropaenic effect of docetaxel. Covariate analysis was performed by testing the relationship between the patients’ characteristics and Slope using the program NONMEM. The neutropaenic effect of docetaxel showed a high interindividual variability. Three significant PD covariates were identified: serum α1-acid glycoprotein levels (AAG), level of chemotherapy pretreatment, and treatment centre. Extensive pretreatment was associated with an increase in Slope values meaning a higher haematotoxicity. An increase in AAG was associated with a decrease of both Slope and docetaxel plasma clearance. Patients treated in one centre had both higher Slope and docetaxel clearance. The centre effect (most likely due to a bias in the PK part of the study between the two centres) reveals the robustness of the PK/PD model. Individual dosing of docetaxel should be based on previous chemotherapy but not on the AAG level since it has a similar influence on PD and PK docetaxel parameters. This methodology should be applied to further investigate elderly patients and to identify more precisely the characteristics of previous chemotherapy that contribute to the cumulative myelotoxicity.

Phase III trial of ixabepilone plus capecitabine compared to capecitabine alone in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) previously treated or resistant to an anthracycline and resistant to taxanes

1006

Background: Patients with MBC who have progressed after anthracyclines and taxanes have limited treatment options. Ixabepilone, a novel epothilone B analog, is active in resistant breast cancer. Methods: In this large multinational phase III trial, patients with MBC who were anthracycline pretreated and met predefined resistance criteria to taxanes were randomized to ixabepilone (40mg/m2 IV over 3h Q3w) + capecitabine (1,000mg/m2 PO BID Q14d) or capecitabine (1,250mg/m2 PO BID Q14d). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), safety, and overall survival (available after 2007). Response and progression were assessed by an independent review committee (IRC) and the investigators (INV). Results: 752 patients were randomized. Median age was 53; 84% had visceral disease, 48% and 43% had 1 and =2 prior metastatic regimens. Median of 5 and 4 cycles of ixabepilone + capecitabine and capecitabine were administered. Ixabepilone + capecitabine was superior to capecitabine. Significant benefit was consistently maintained across predefined subgroups, including HER2-/ER- /PR- and HER2+. *Primary analysis of PFS; hazard ratio= 0.75. Grade (G) 3/4 adverse events included neuropathy (ixabepilone + capecitabine 23% vs capecitabine 0%), hand-foot syndrome (18% vs 17%), and fatigue (9% vs 3%). Neuropathy was cumulative and reversible (median time to resolution of G3/4 to baseline/G1 was 6 weeks). G3 and 4 neutropenia were reported in 32% and 36% vs 9% and 2%, respectively; febrile neutropenia was 5% with ixabepilone + capecitabine. Toxic death rate was 3% vs 1%. Patients with liver dysfunction were at greater risk. Conclusions: Ixabepilone + capecitabine has superior efficacy to capecitabine across endpoints and has a manageable safety profile in this heavily pretreated population. It offers a new potential option for patients with MBC.

[Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

EGF105084, a phase II study of lapatinib for brain metastases in patients (pts) with HER2+ breast cancer following trastuzumab (H) based systemic therapy and cranial radiotherapy (RT)

1012

Background: CNS disease is a major problem among pts treated with H for stage IV HER2+ breast cancer with a reported incidence of 28–43%. This study was designed to characterize further the activity reported with lapatinib in an initial phase II trial in women with HER2+ disease metastatic to brain (Lin et al ASCO ‘06). Methods: Eligible pts had HER2+ breast cancer, prior H therapy and cranial RT, ECOG PS 0–2, and radiographic evidence of progressive brain metastases with at least one measurable (LD = 10mm) brain lesion. Pts received lapatinib 750 mg PO BID. Brain MRIs were obtained at 3.0 mm slices without gaps in the axial dimension. The primary endpoint was CNS response as defined by a = 50% volumetric (vol) reduction of CNS lesions in the absence of: new lesions, need for increased dose of steroids, progressive neurological signs/symptoms (NSS), or progressive extra-CNS disease. CNS disease progression was defined as either a = 40% vol increase from nadir, increase in steroid requirements, or progression of NSS. Results: The study exceeded its accrual goal of 220 pts in < 1 year; 238 pts were enrolled from Jan-Nov 06. Preliminary data from the initial 104 pts have undergone independent radiology review. 8 pts (7.7%) met vol criteria for partial response with a median absolute vol reduction of CNS disease of 3.6 cm3 (range 0.4 to 29.7 cm3). Exploratory analysis revealed that 17 of the initial 104 pts (16.3%) experienced a = 20% vol reduction of CNS disease with a median absolute vol reduction of 3.3cm3. The median time to vol progression in these 17 pts was 16 wks (range 12 -24 wks). Analysis of efficacy and tolerability based upon protocol defined criteria from all 238 pts will be presented. Conclusions: Preliminary data from this large multicenter trial provides evidence that lapatinib has activity based on vol reductions in pts with progressive HER2+ CNS disease following prior H-based systemic therapy and cranial RT. Definitive conclusions will be based on the entire database. Additional studies are warranted incorporating lapatinib in combination with other therapies and/or in a less refractory setting to optimize its use in HER2+ CNS disease.

[Table: see text]

Epirubicin-vinorelbine vs FEC100 for node-positive, early breast cancer: French Adjuvant Study Group 09 trial

The aim of the study was to compare our reference adjuvant chemotherapy, FEC100 (fluorouracil 500 mg m⁻², epirubicin 100 mg m⁻² and cyclophosphamide 500 mg m⁻², six cycles every 21 days), to an epirubicin–vinorelbine (Epi-Vnr) combination for early, poor-prognosis breast cancer patients. Patients (482) were randomised to receive FEC100, or Epi-Vnr (epirubicin 50 mg m⁻² day 1 and vinorelbine 25 mg m⁻², days 1 and 8, six cycles every 21 days). The 7-year disease-free survival rates were 59.4 and 58.8%, respectively (P=0.47). The relative dose intensity of planned epirubicin doses was 89.1% with FEC100 and 88.9% with Epi-Vnr. There were significantly more grades 3–4 neutropenia (P=0.009) with Epi-Vnr, and significantly more nausea-vomiting (P<0.0001), stomatitis (P=0.0007) and alopecia (P<0.0001) with FEC100. No cases of congestive heart failure were reported, whereas four decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction occurred after FEC100 and five after Epi-Vnr. One case of acute myeloblastic leukaemia was registered in the FEC100 arm. After 7 years of follow-up, there was no difference between treatment arms. Epi-Vnr regimen provided a good efficacy in such poor-prognosis breast cancer patients, and could be an alternative to FEC100, taking into account respective safety profiles of both regimens.

Dexamethasone as a probe for CYP3A4 metabolism: evidence of gender effect

BACKGROUND

A study was conducted to evaluate prospectively the correlation between docetaxel clearance and pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone previously obtained in 21 patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Dexamethasone pharmacokinetics were performed in 17 patients 24 h before docetaxel treatment as monochemotherapy. Dexamethasone and docetaxel plasma concentrations were determined by HPLC methods. Determination of docetaxel unbound fraction in plasma was performed using microequilibrium dialysis.

RESULTS

Significant correlation was observed between observed plasma docetaxel clearances (CL(docetaxel)) and values predicted from dexamethasone plasma clearance (CL(dexa)), unbound plasma docetaxel fraction estimated from serum alpha1-acid glycoprotein level (fu(alpha1-AAG)), and hepatic metastasis status. However, after splitting of the prospective data set according to gender, no correlation was observed for males (R(2) = 0.08, NS, n = 10), then strong correlation was observed for females (R(2) = 0.78, P < 0.01, n = 7). Multivariate analysis was performed from data obtained in the women included in the first study and those of this prospective study (n = 18). Docetaxel CL was significantly correlated with CL(dexa) (P = 0.001) and fu(alpha1-AAG) (P = 0.01) according to the relationship (with +/-95% confidence intervals): CL(docetaxel) (l/h) = 1.92 (+/-0.94) x CL(dexa) (l/h) + 2.68 (+/-1.95) x fu(alpha1-AAG) (%) (R(2) = 0.68).

CONCLUSION

Dexamethasone may be used to predict docetaxel clearances in females, but not in males.