Safety of everolimus plus exemestane in patients with hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer progressing on prior non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors: primary results of a phase IIIb, open-label, single-arm, expanded-access multicenter trial (BALLET)

Efficacy and safety of everolimus plus exemestane in patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER-2-negative advanced breast cancer: Results from the open-label, multicentre, non-interventional BRAWO study

BRAWO, a real-world study, assessed the efficacy, quality of life (QoL) and safety of EVE + EXE in postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer (ABC) in routine clinical practice. Postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2-ABC with recurrence or progression after a NSAI were included. Primary Observation parameters included the evaluation of the effectiveness of EVE + EXE. A multivariate-analysis using Cox proportional hazard model was built to identify predictors of progression. Overall, 2100 patients were enrolled (August 2012-December 2017); 2074 were evaluable for efficacy and safety analyses. Majority of patients (60.6%) received EVE + EXE as first (28.7%) or second-line (31.9%) therapy. Visceral metastases were present in 54.1% patients. Median progression-free survival (mPFS) reported as 6.6 months (95%CI: 6.3-7.0). Multivariate-analysis in a subset of patients (n = 1837) found higher body mass index (BMI) and non-visceral metastases to be independent predictors of favorable PFS. Patients with a BMI of 20 to <25 had a mPFS of 6.0 (95%CI: 5.4-6.4) and those with a BMI ≥30 had mPFS of 8.5 (95%CI: 6.9-9.9). 41.2% patients achieved stable disease and 7.3% partial response. No major changes were observed QoL; 86.4% patients received stomatitis prophylaxis and 41.4% experienced EVE related AEs of stomatitis, mainly low grade. AEs occurred in 91.2% of patients, of which stomatitis (42.6%) and fatigue (19.8%) were most frequent. The BRAWO study provides real-world evidence of efficacy and safety of EVE + EXE in patients with HR+, HER2- ABC. A high BMI and the absence of visceral metastases were independent predictors of PFS in this cohort of patients.

Reporting on patient's body mass index (BMI) in recent clinical trials for patients with breast cancer: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

The proportion of patients with breast cancer and obesity is increasing. While the therapeutic landscape of breast cancer has been expanding, we lack knowledge about the potential differential efficacy of most drugs according to the body mass index (BMI). Here, we conducted a systematic review on recent clinical drug trials to document the dosing regimen of recent drugs, the reporting of BMI and the possible exclusion of patients according to BMI, other adiposity measurements and/or diabetes (leading comorbidity of obesity). We further explored whether treatment efficacy was evaluated according to BMI.

METHODS

A search of Pubmed and ClinicalTrials.gov was performed to identify phase I-IV trials investigating novel systemic breast cancer treatments. Dosing regimens and exclusion based on BMI, adiposity measurements or diabetes, documentation of BMI and subgroup analyses according to BMI were assessed.

RESULTS

495 trials evaluating 26 different drugs were included. Most of the drugs (21/26, 81%) were given in a fixed dose independent of patient weight. BMI was an exclusion criterion in 3 out of 495 trials. Patients with diabetes, the leading comorbidity of obesity, were excluded in 67/495 trials (13.5%). Distribution of patients according to BMI was mentioned in 8% of the manuscripts, subgroup analysis was performed in 2 trials. No other measures of adiposity/body composition were mentioned in any of the trials. Retrospective analyses on the impact of BMI were performed in 6 trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient adiposity is hardly considered as most novel drug treatments are given in a fixed dose. BMI is generally not reported in recent trials and few secondary analyses are performed. Given the prevalence of patients with obesity and the impact obesity can have on pharmacokinetics and cancer biology, more attention should be given by investigators and study sponsors to reporting patient's BMI and evaluating its impact on treatment efficacy and toxicity.

The prognosis of patients treated with everolimus for advanced ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer is driven by molecular features

Everolimus is widely used in patients with advanced ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. We looked at alterations in the PIK3CA/AKT/mTOR pathway in a multicenter cohort as potential biomarkers of efficacy. Patients with advanced ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer treated with everolimus and endocrine therapy between 2012 and 2014 in two cancer centers were included. Targeted sequencing examined mutations in PIK3CA, ESR1, and AKT1 genes. An immunochemical analysis was conducted to evaluate expression of PTEN, INPP4B, STK11, p4EBP1, and pS6. We analyzed 71 patients (44 primary tumors; 27 metastatic tissues). Median age was 63 years [58-69]. All patients had heavily pretreated advanced disease. A mutation in the PIK3CA pathway was observed in 32 samples (PIK3CA exons 10 and 21 and AKT1 exon 4 in 15.5%, 24.0%, and 5.6% of samples), and in ESR1 in 5 samples (7.0%), respectively. Most samples showed cytoplasmic expression of the PIK3CA pathway proteins. Progression-free survival was longer in patients with a pS6 or p4EBP1 histoscore ≥ median value (6.6 versus 3.7 months, p = 0.037), and in patients with a PTEN histoscore ≤ median value (7.1 versus 5.3 months, p = 0.02). Overall survival was longer in patients with pS6 ≥ 3rd quartile (27.6 versus 19.3 months, p = 0.038) and in patients with any mutation in the PIK3CA/AKT/mTOR pathway (27.6 versus 19.3 months, p = 0.011). The prognosis of patients treated with everolimus for advanced ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer appears primarily driven by molecular features associated with the activation of the PIK3CA/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in European Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

Breast cancer is the most prevalent female cancer worldwide with known correlations between the race and tumor characteristics of the patients and prognosis. International and US-based studies, however, have reported a disproportionate representation of Black and Hispanic patients in clinical trials. This is the first study assessing race and ethnicity reporting trends and inclusion in European breast cancer trials. The PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were systematically searched for trials on breast cancer treatment conducted exclusively in Europe between 2010 and 2022. Of the 97 identified trials, race was reported in 10.31%. Multinational participation, but not the study size or trial phase, was significantly associated with higher race reporting trends. These 10 trials featured a White-predominant population, with 1.08% Asian and 0.88% Black patients included. The acquisition of the race and ethnicity data of patients in European trials is lower compared to the U.S. or worldwide studies and does not permit extensive analysis of minority participation. In a limited analysis, the low rates of minority participation are concerning, based on population-based data on minorities in select European countries. These observations should encourage race reporting practices in European breast cancer trials and adequate minority participation to support the generalizability of the results of the studies and promote healthcare equity.

Systemic Therapy in Older Patients With High-Risk Disease

Adjuvant systemic treatments for older patients with breast cancer require constant dose or schedule adjustments of standards established for younger ones. This is mainly due to frailty that increases according to age (40%-50% of signals in all comers after age 70 years) and remains difficult to spot or diagnose accurately and therefore is often overlooked. Older patients are at higher risk to develop side effects whether under chemotherapy, optimized endocrine treatment, or targeted therapies. Pharmacokinetic reflects poorly functional reserves that reduce with aging and is therefore misleading. The demonstration of significant long-term benefits provided by adjuvant treatments is challenged by life expectancy, driven by multimorbidity status that increases with age, competing with cancer outcome. When geriatric assessment is incorporated into the multidisciplinary team, treatment decision process shows 30%-50% changes, de-escalating initial age-agnostic treatment choices in two of three cases. Finally, expectations from treatment vary over the years: In older ones, although not being exclusive, there is a general shift of preference for protecting functionality, cognitive functions, and independence, as summarized in quality of life that many systemic adjuvant treatment may jeopardize. These provocative considerations show importance to pay more attention to expectations expressed by older patients to limit gaps between what is thought by health care professionals as right, often on the basis of dose intensity models strongly engrained in oncology and that older patients may assess counterintuitively differently. The most achieved molecular testing to identify high-risk luminal tumors should be combined with determinant geriatric factors to bring relevant global information in the adjuvant setting for older patients.

Recent Advances with Precision Medicine Treatment for Breast Cancer including Triple-Negative Sub-Type

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with different molecular subtypes. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in woman due to rapid metastasis and disease recurrence. Precision medicine remains an essential source to lower the off-target toxicities of chemotherapeutic agents and maximize the patient benefits. This is a crucial approach for a more effective treatment and prevention of disease. Precision-medicine methods are based on the selection of suitable biomarkers to envision the effectiveness of targeted therapy in a specific group of patients. Several druggable mutations have been identified in breast cancer patients. Current improvements in omics technologies have focused on more precise strategies for precision therapy. The development of next-generation sequencing technologies has raised hopes for precision-medicine treatment strategies in breast cancer (BC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Targeted therapies utilizing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor (EGFRi), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), oncolytic viruses (OVs), glucose transporter-1 inhibitor (GLUT1i), and targeting signaling pathways are potential treatment approaches for BC and TNBC. This review emphasizes the recent progress made with the precision-medicine therapy of metastatic breast cancer and TNBC.

Long-Term Results with Everolimus in Advanced Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer in a Multicenter National Real-World Observational Study

Everolimus is the first oral targeted therapy widely used in advanced HR+/HER2- breast cancer. We sought to evaluate the impact of everolimus-based therapy on overall survival in the ESME-MBC database, a national metastatic breast cancer cohort that collects retrospective data using clinical trial-like methodology including quality assessments. We compared 1693 patients having received everolimus to 5928 patients not exposed to everolimus in the same period. Overall survival was evaluated according to treatment line, and a propensity score with the inverse probability of treatment weighting method was built to adjust for differences between groups. Crude and landmark overall survival analyses were all compatible with a benefit from everolimus-based therapy. Adjusted hazard ratios for overall survival were 0.34 (95% CI: 0.16-0.72, p = 0.0054), 0.34 (95% CI: 0.22-0.52, p < 0.0001), and 0.23 (95% CI: 0.14-0.36, p < 0.0001) for patients treated with everolimus in line 1, 2, and 3 and beyond, respectively. No clinically relevant benefit on progression-free survival was observed. Causes for everolimus discontinuation were progressive disease (56.2%), adverse events (27.7%), and other miscellaneous reasons. Despite the limitations inherent to such retrospective studies, these results suggest that adding everolimus-based therapy to the therapeutic sequences in patients with advanced HR+/HER2- breast cancer may favorably affect overall survival.

Everolimus pharmacokinetics and exposure-response relationship in Japanese patients with advanced breast cancer

Background: Everolimus is one of the key drugs for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The optimal target concentration range for everolimus therapy in patients with breast cancer has not yet been established. This study aimed to characterize everolimus pharmacokinetics (PK) and determine the relationship between blood concentration and efficacy as well as adverse events in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational PK study. Patients receiving everolimus between November 2015 and November 2018 at our hospital were enrolled in this study. The whole blood samples for the everolimus assay were collected at least two weeks after initiation of treatment or the last everolimus dose change. PK parameters were estimated using Bayesian analysis. Statistical differences in everolimus trough concentrations between patient cohorts were assessed using the Mann–Whitney test. Progression-free survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test.

Results: Eighteen patients were enrolled in the study. The median follow-up period was 35 months. The most frequently observed adverse event was stomatitis (all grade 94%). There was high inter-individual variation in PK parameters such as clearance [range: 5.1–21.3 L/h/70 kg and co-efficient of variation (CV): 38.5%] and volume of distribution of the central compartment (range: 9.9–103.6 L/70 kg and CV: 57.8%). The trough concentrations at dose-limiting toxicities were significantly higher than trough concentrations in the absence of these toxicities (p = 0.0058). Progression-free survival was significantly longer in the 10–20 ng/ml group than in the other groups (p = 0.0078).

Conclusion: This study characterized the everolimus PK parameters in Japanese patients with breast cancer. High everolimus exposure was found to be associated with poor tolerability. Based on our data, trough concentrations in the range of 10–20 ng/ml may be associated with prolonged progression-free survival. Thus, determining the blood concentration of everolimus and subsequent dose adjustments will potentially reduce side effects and enhance the therapeutic effect in Japanese patients with advanced breast cancer.

Oncological Treatment-Related Fatigue in Oncogeriatrics: A Scoping Review

Simple Summary

Fatigue in older patients has multiple etiologies, as this symptom may be cancer-related, treatment-related, age-related, or part of frailty syndrome. Physicians need to identify this symptom and understand its risk factors but also evaluate the risk/benefit ratio of cancer treatments considering the risk of impairing the patient’s quality of life. This scoping review was aimed to present the level of information currently available on any-grade fatigue and grade 3 or more fatigue for each cancer treatment regimen, either in general or in older populations, for the most prevalent tumors.

Abstract

Fatigue is a highly prevalent symptom in both cancer patients and the older population, and it contributes to quality-of-life impairment. Cancer treatment-related fatigue should thus be included in the risk/benefit assessment when introducing any treatment, but tools are lacking to a priori estimate such risk. This scoping review was designed to report the current evidence regarding the frequency of fatigue for the different treatment regimens proposed for the main cancer indications, with a specific focus on age-specific data, for the following tumors: breast, ovary, prostate, urothelium, colon, lung and lymphoma. Fatigue was most frequently reported using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) versions 3 to 5. A total of 324 regimens were analyzed; data on fatigue were available for 217 (67%) of them, and data specific to older patients were available for 35 (11%) of them; recent pivotal trials have generally reported more fatigue grades than older studies, illustrating increasing concern over time. This scoping review presents an easy-to-understand summary that is expected to provide helpful information for shared decisions with patients regarding the anticipation and prevention of fatigue during each cancer treatment.

Pharmacotherapeutic Management of Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors in Older Patients: Current Status and Potential Therapies

Neuroendocrine tumors are a rare and heterogenous group of neoplasms that arise from hormone-producing cells throughout the body, with the greatest increase in incidence occurring among older adults aged ≥ 65 years. Despite this, there is currently a lack of data regarding the safety and efficacy of systemic treatment for older adults with neuroendocrine tumors. In this review, we provide a synopsis of the current standard-of-care pharmacotherapeutic treatments for neuroendocrine tumors, with an emphasis on available data in older adults. The benefits of various systemic options such as somatostatin analogs, tryptophan hydroxylase inhibition, molecular targeted agents, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, and chemotherapy were similar between older adults compared to younger patients. However, real-world data regarding tolerance in the older adult population with neuroendocrine tumors are needed. Future development of novel systemic therapies in the neuroendocrine tumor treatment landscape and their inclusion of and potential impact on older adults living with neuroendocrine tumors is warranted.

Biomarkers of everolimus efficacy in breast cancer therapy

OBJECTIVE

Everolimus is an inhibitor of serine/ threonine kinase mTOR. The drug is approved for the treatment of metastatic ER positive, HER2 negative breast cancers and benefits a subset of patients with these breast cancers in combination with hormonal therapies. Despite extensive efforts, no additional predictive biomarkers to guide therapeutic decisions for everolimus have been introduced in clinical practice.

DATA SOURCES

This paper discusses predictive biomarkers for everolimus efficacy in breast cancer. A search of the medline and web of science databases was performed using the words "everolimus" and "biomarkers". References of retrieved articles were manually scanned for additional relevant articles.

DATA SUMMARY

Everolimus benefits a subset of patients with metastatic ER positive, HER2 negative breast cancers in combination with hormonal therapies. Despite extensive efforts no additional predictive biomarkers to guide therapeutic decisions for everolimus therapy have been confirmed for use in clinical practice. However, promising biomarker leads for everolimus efficacy in breast cancer have been suggested and include expression of proteins in the mTOR pathway in ER positive, HER2 negative breast cancers. In HER2 positive cancers PIK3CA mutations, and PTEN expression loss are prognostic. Other clinical predictive biomarkers with more limited data include characteristics derived from whole genome sequencing, subsets of circulating leukocytes and changes in Standardized Uptake Values (SUV) of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans.

CONCLUSIONS

Putative predictive biomarkers for everolimus efficacy in breast cancer patients, both genomic and clinical, deserve further study and could lead to a better selection of responsive patients.

Real-Life Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Everolimus Plus Exemestane in Hormone Receptor-Positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients: A Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) Study

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of everolimus (EVE) plus exemestane (EXE) in hormone-receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients in real-life settings.

METHODS

Overall, 204 HR+, HER2- MBC patients treated with EVE + EXE after progressing following prior endocrine treatment were included. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) and safety data were analyzed.

RESULTS

The objective response rate, median PFS, and median OS were 33.4%, 8.9 months, and 23.4 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that negative progesterone receptor status was a significant determinant of poor treatment response (p = 0.035) and PFS (p = 0.024). The presence of bone-only metastasis was associated with better treatment response (p = 0.002), PFS (p < 0.001), and OS (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We confirmed the favorable efficacy and safety profile of EVE + EXE for HR+, HER - MBC patients.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose everolimus combined with endocrine drugs for patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative metastatic breast cancer

Background

To analyze the efficacy and safety of everolimus 5 mg/day in combination with endocrine drugs in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer using real-world clinical data.

Methods

Clinical data of hormone receptor (HR)-positive and HER2-negative patients with advanced breast cancer treated with everolimus combined with endocrine drugs in our center between August 2012 and May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Curative effect and adverse reactions were evaluated.

Results

A total of 110 patients were enrolled in this study, and 87.3% received salvage chemotherapy. The median number of salvage treatment lines was 5 (range: 1–19). The median follow-up duration was 12 months (range: 1–56.3 months), the overall response rate (ORR) was 6.4%, the clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 31.8%, the median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 4.0 months (95% CI: 2.9–5.1 months), and the median overall survival (OS) was 17 months (95% CI: 12.1–21.9 months). The mPFS for patients who received ≤2 treatment line was 11.8 months (95% CI: 4.3–19.3 months). Univariate and multivariate analyses suggested that absence of liver metastases, secondary endocrine resistance, and number of metastasis sites <3 were the main factors influencing the benefit of everolimus combined with endocrine therapy. The most common adverse events of grade 3 were: stomatitis (5.5%), non-infectious pneumonia (1.8%), and erythra (1.8%). No grade 4 adverse reactions were observed.

Conclusions

Our results showed that everolimus (5 mg/day) combined with endocrine therapy was effective and relatively safe for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

Combined everolimus and endocrine therapy in advanced HR-positive, HER2-negative Chinese breast cancer patients: a retrospective study

Background

Everolimus (EVE) is an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and it is approved for the treatment of advanced breast cancer (ABC). However, there is still little real-world data on using EVE in Chinese breast cancer patients. We retrospectively analyzed real-world data to determine the factors affecting EVE treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively collected the treatment information of ABC patients treated with EVE from 2013 to 2020 in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression methods were used to calculate and compare the progression-free survival (PFS), and identify the factors associated with EVE treatment efficacy.

Results

The study finally enrolled 84 patients meeting the requirement; the median PFS in all 84 patients was 6.87 months. Multivariate analysis showed that liver metastasis [hazard ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00–2.84; P=0.049], and brain metastasis (hazard ratio, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.07–6.58; P=0.036) were independent risk factors. Subgroup analyses demonstrated EVE + fulvestrant (FUL) was not superior to EVE + aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for PFS (5.77 vs. 7.97 months, P=0.0735). Furthermore, it showed EVE + AI was superior to EVE + FUL in some subgroups: postmenopausal group (hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.26–0.98); without bone metastasis group (hazard ratio, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.06–0.80); visceral disease group (hazard ratio, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.20–0.69).

Conclusions

EVE combined with endocrine therapy is an effective treatment option for Chinese patients with hormone-receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative (HER2−) breast cancer, although EVE + FUL was not superior to EVE + AI. Liver metastasis and brain metastasis were independent risk factors for successful EVE + endocrine therapy.

From clinical trials to clinical practice: the use of everolimus and exemestane in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer: real-world data

Everolimus combined with exemestane can modulate endocrine resistance. The combination showed significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) in phase III clinical trials for hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer patients. It also showed serious adverse events. We evaluate the efficacy and prevalence of serious adverse events in a real-world setting. We retrospectively examined 91 breast cancer patients; all were previously treated with chemotherapy and fulvestrant (84% and 59%, respectively). After a 13-month median follow-up, 29% had a partial response, and 32% had stable disease. The PFS was 7.8 months. Due to adverse events, 19% of patients stopped the treatment, while 31% required a dose reduction. Despite enrolling heavier-pretreated patients, our real-world outcome for the efficacy and safety of the exemestane and everolimus match those of the clinical trials. Such results should assure clinicians and lead to wider adoption of this oral, chemotherapy-sparing regimen.

Optimizing treatment selection, and sequencing decisions for Management of HR-Positive, HER2-Negative advanced breast cancer - Proceedings from breast cancer expert group meeting

PURPOSE

The therapeutic landscape of hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC) has evolved considerably with the introduction of newer targeted agents and their combinations with endocrine therapies. In this scenario, optimizing treatment selection and sequencing is daunting for clinicians. The purpose of this review is to provide evidence-based answers to key clinical questions on treatment selection and sequencing for the management of HR + HER2 - mBC.

DESIGN

A panel of nine key opinion leaders from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Moscow, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and UAE convened in October 2018. They reviewed the literature and formulated answers to clinical questions on optimizing the management of HR + HER2 - mBC.

RESULTS

Evidence-based answers were formulated for: (1) optimal initial treatment choice; (2) ovarian function suppression, optimal endocrine partner, and role of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors (in premenopausal women); (3) better first-line standard of care than aromatase inhibitors; (4) preferred second-line treatment; (5) treatment of oligometastatic disease; (6) factors influencing first-line single-agent endocrine therapy choice; (7) influence of endocrine resistance on treatment selection; (8) optimal maintenance regimen in visceral crisis; and (9) need for a breast cancer registry for patients with HR + HER2 - mBC. The panel also proposed a treatment-sequencing algorithm for the management of HR + HER2 - mBC.

CONCLUSION

The current article will serve as a comprehensive guide for optimizing the management of HR + HER2 - mBC. The proposed breast cancer registry will help identify unmet needs and develop strategic regional policies to help improve access to optimized care for HR + HER2 - mBC.

Estrogen Receptor-Alpha and p53 Status as Regulators of AMPK and mTOR in Luminal Breast Cancer

Luminal breast cancer (LBC) driven by dysregulated estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) signaling accounts for 70% of the breast cancer cases diagnosed. Although endocrine therapy (ET) is effective against LBC, about one-third of these patients fail to respond to therapy owing to acquired or inherent resistance mechanisms. Aberrant signaling via ERα, oncogenes, growth factor receptors, and mutations in tumor suppressors such as p53 impinge on downstream regulators such as AMPK and mTOR. While both AMPK and mTOR have been reported to play important roles in determining sensitivity of LBC to ET, how the ERα-p53 crosstalk impinges on regulation of AMPK and mTOR, thereby influencing therapeutic efficacy remains unknown. Here, we have addressed this important issue using isogenic breast cancer cell lines, siRNA-mediated RNA knockdown, and different modes of drug treatments. Interaction of p53 with ERα and AMPK was determined by in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA), and endogenous gene transcripts were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Further, the effect of concurrent and sequential administration of Fulvestrant-Everolimus combination on colony formation was determined. The studies showed that in cells expressing wild type p53, as well as in cells devoid of p53, ERα represses AMPK, whereas in cells harboring mutant p53, repression of AMPK is sustained even in the absence of ERα. AMPK is a major negative regulator of mTOR, and to our knowledge, this is the first study on the contribution of AMPK-dependent regulation of mTOR by ERα. Furthermore, the studies revealed that independent of the p53 mutation status, combination of Fulvestrant and Everolimus may be a viable first line therapeutic strategy for potentially delaying resistance of ERα+/HER2- LBC to ET.

The Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute's Use of Food and Drug Administration-Expanded Access Guidelines to Provide Experimental Cell Therapy to Patients With Rare Serious Diseases

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides guidance for expanded access to experimental therapies, which in turn plays an important role in the Twenty-first Century Cures Act mandate to advance cell-based therapy. In cases of incurable diseases where there is a lack of alternative treatment options, many patients seek access to cell-based therapies for the possibility of treatment responses demonstrated in clinical trials. Here, we describe the use of the FDA’s expanded access to investigational new drug (IND) to address rare and emergency conditions that include stiff-person syndrome, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain stem injury, complex congenital heart disease, ischemic stroke, and peripheral nerve injury. We have administered both allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and autologous Schwann cell (SC) therapy to patients upon emergency request using Single Patient Expanded Access (SPEA) INDs approved by the FDA. In this report, we present our experience with 10 completed SPEA protocols.

Advances in endocrine and targeted therapy for hormone-receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer

Nearly 70% of breast cancer (BC) is hormone-receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, and endocrine therapy is the mainstay of treatment for this subtype. However, intrinsic or acquired endocrine resistance can occur during the endocrine treatment. Based on insights of endocrine resistance mechanisms, a number of targeted therapies have been and continue to be developed. With regard to HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced BC, aromatase inhibitor (AI) is superior to tamoxifen, and fulvestrant is a better option for patients previously exposed to endocrine therapy. Targeted drugs, such as cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, play a significant role in the present and show a promising future. With the application of CDK4/6 inhibitors becoming common, mechanisms of acquired resistance to them should also be taken into consideration.

Updated recommendations regarding the management of older patients with breast cancer: a joint paper from the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) and the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG)

Breast cancer is increasingly prevalent in older adults and is a substantial part of routine oncology practice. However, management of breast cancer in this population is challenging because the disease is highly heterogeneous and there is insufficient evidence specific to older adults. Decision making should not be driven by age alone but should involve geriatric assessments plus careful consideration of life expectancy, competing risks of mortality, and patient preferences. A multidisciplinary taskforce, including members of the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists and International Society of Geriatric Oncology, gathered to expand and update the previous 2012 evidence-based recommendations for the management of breast cancer in older individuals with the endorsement of the European Cancer Organisation. These guidelines were expanded to include chemotherapy toxicity prediction calculators, cultural and social considerations, surveillance imaging, genetic screening, gene expression profiles, neoadjuvant systemic treatment options, bone-modifying drugs, targeted therapies, and supportive care. Recommendations on geriatric assessment, ductal carcinoma in situ, screening, primary endocrine therapy, surgery, radiotherapy, adjuvant systemic therapy, and secondary breast cancer were updated.

Impact of Baseline and On-Treatment Glycemia on Everolimus-Exemestane Efficacy in Patients with Hormone Receptor-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer (EVERMET)

PURPOSE

The mTOR complex C1 (mTORC1) inhibitor everolimus in combination with the aromatase inhibitor exemestane is an effective treatment for patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR⁺), HER2-negative (HER2^-), advanced breast cancer (HR⁺/HER2^- aBC). However, everolimus can cause hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, which could reactivate the PI3K/protein kinase B (AKT)/mTORC1 pathway and induce tumor resistance to everolimus.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, Italian study to investigate the impact of baseline and on-treatment (i.e., during first 3 months of therapy) blood glucose levels on progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with HR⁺/HER2^- aBC treated with everolimus-exemestane.

RESULTS

We evaluated 809 patients with HR⁺/HER2^- aBC treated with everolimus-exemestane as any line of therapy for advanced disease. When evaluated as dichotomous variables, baseline and on-treatment glycemia were not significantly associated with PFS. However, when blood glucose concentration was evaluated as a continuous variable, a multivariable model accounting for clinically relevant patient- and tumor-related variables revealed that both baseline and on-treatment glycemia are associated with PFS, and this association is largely attributable to their interaction. In particular, patients who are normoglycemic at baseline and experience on-treatment diabetes have lower PFS compared with patients who are already hyperglycemic at baseline and experience diabetes during everolimus-exemestane therapy (median PFS, 6.34 vs. 10.32 months; HR, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.69; P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of on-treatment glycemia on the efficacy of everolimus-exemestane therapy in patients with HR⁺/HER2^- aBC depends on baseline glycemia. This study lays the foundations for investigating novel therapeutic approaches to target the glucose/insulin axis in combination with PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 inhibitors in patients with HR⁺/HER2^- aBC.

Palbociclib Plus Fulvestrant or Everolimus Plus Exemestane for Pretreated Advanced Breast Cancer with Lobular Histotype in ER+/HER2- Patients: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of a Multicenter Retrospective Patient Series

Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) show meaningful efficacy and tolerability in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), but the optimal sequence of ET has not been established. It is not clear if patients with lobular breast carcinomas (LBC) derive the same benefits when receiving second line CDK4/6i. This retrospective study compared the efficacy of palbociclib plus fulvestrant (PALBO–FUL) with everolimus plus exemestane (EVE–EXE) as second-line ET for hormone-resistant metastatic LBC. From 2013 to 2018, patients with metastatic LBC positivity for estrogen and/or progesterone receptors and HER2/neu negativity, who had relapsed during adjuvant hormonal therapy or first-line hormonal treatment, were enrolled from six centers in Italy in this retrospective study. A total of 74 out of 376 patients (48 treated with PALBO–FUL and 26 with EVE–EXE) with metastatic LBC were eligible for inclusion. Progression-free survival (PFS) was longer in patients receiving EVE–EXE compared with PALBO–FUL (6.1 vs. 4.5 months, univariate HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35–0.96; p = 0.025). On the propensity score (PS) analysis, PFS was confirmed to be significantly longer for patients treated with EVE–EXE compared to PALBO–FUL (6.0 vs. 4.6 months, p = 0.04). This retrospective analysis suggests that EVE–EXE is more effective than PALBO–FUL for second line ET of metastatic LBC, allowing us to speculate on the optimal therapeutic sequence.

Everolimus-Related Pneumonitis in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer: Incidence, Radiographic Patterns, and Relevance to Clinical Outcome

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the incidence, radiographic patterns, and relevance to clinical outcome of everolimus-related pneumonitis (ERP) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of patients with MBC treated with everolimus who had baseline and at least one follow-up chest computed tomography (CT) were obtained from a medical electronic database system. An independent review of the CT scans of these patients was conducted by two radiologists (NCT03730428). Log-rank and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used for time-to-event analyses.

RESULTS

ERP was radiographically detected in 45 of 86 patients (52.3%). In more than 80% of these patients, ERP occurred during the first 4 months of everolimus treatment. Only 14 of the 45 patients with ERP were symptomatic (31.1%). Symptoms included cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Bilateral and lower distribution of the pneumonitis was most common. In most of the cases, ground-glass opacities and reticular opacities were noticed. Elderly patients were more likely to develop ERP. Patients with ERP had significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS; 6.8 vs. 4.1 months, p = .024) and overall survival (OS; 42.8 vs. 21.3 months, p = .016). ERP was a predictor of OS improvement confirmed by multivariate Cox analysis (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.97; p = .040).

CONCLUSIONS

ERP was noted in half of the patients with MBC treated with everolimus. Our data suggested that ERP was associated with improved prognosis and may be used as a biomarker for the efficacy of everolimus in MBC. Close monitoring, prompt diagnosis, and proper treatment for ERP are essential to maintain the quality of life of patients and achieve maximum treatment benefits.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Everolimus-related pneumonitis (ERP) is one of the most worrying drug adverse events, especially in Asian patients. However, little has been known about the clinical and radiographic details of ERP in patients with metastatic breast cancers (MBCs) treated with everolimus. The present study investigated the clinical characteristics, radiographic patterns, and its correlation with treatment outcome in patients with MBC. ERP was identified in more than half of patients with MBC during everolimus therapy and was associated with improved outcome. Close monitoring and prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment for ERP are critical for the preservation of patients' quality of life and achievement of maximal treatment benefits.

Prevention, Detection, and Management of Heart Failure in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Long-term survival has increased significantly in breast cancer patients, and cardiovascular side effects are surpassing cancer-related mortality. We summarize risk factors, prevention strategies, detection, and management of cardiotoxicity, with focus on left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure, during breast cancer treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

Baseline treatment of cardiovascular risk factors is recommended. Anthracycline and trastuzumab treatment constitute a substantial risk of developing cardiotoxicity. There is growing evidence that this can be treated with beta blockers and angiotensin antagonists. Early detection of cardiotoxicity with cardiac imaging and circulating cardiovascular biomarkers is currently evaluated in clinical trials. Chest wall irradiation accelerates atherosclerotic processes and induces fibrosis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors require consideration for surveillance due to a small risk of severe myocarditis. Cyclin-dependent kinases4/6 inhibitors, cyclophosphamide, taxanes, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and endocrine therapy have a lower-risk profile for cardiotoxicity. Preventive and management strategies to counteract cancer treatment-related left ventricular dysfunction or heart failure in breast cancer patients should include a comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment and individual clinical evaluation. This should include both patient and treatment-related factors. Further clinical trials especially on early detection, cardioprevention, and management are urgently needed.

Breast cancer in the oldest old (≥ 89 years): Tumor characteristics, treatment choices, clinical outcomes and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Risk of breast cancer increases with age and very few data are available in patients older than 89.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis on patients aged 89 and older treated between 2008 and 2019 at our certified breast center. The aim was to analyze clinical characteristics, decision-making, treatment, outcomes and open questions regarding this subpopulation for which there is a lack of guidelines.

RESULTS

58 patients included. Tumor characteristics were analyzed, 85% patients underwent surgery of which 44% had a mastectomy. The median follow-up and overall survival were 20 and 76 months, respectively.The median survival of metastatic and non-metastatic patients were 14 and 50 months, respectively. Most patients did not receive any adjuvant treatment and among these 14% had a relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients should not be under or over-treated because of their age; they represent a large heterogeneous group deserving a sub-stratification for a better tailored treatment.

Immune system and angiogenesis-related potential surrogate biomarkers of response to everolimus-based treatment in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: an exploratory study

Purpose

mTOR inhibitor everolimus is used for hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (mBC). No reliable predictive biomarker of response is available. Following evidences from other solid tumors, we aimed to assess the association between treatment-associated immune system features and everolimus activity.

Methods

We retrospectively explored a correlation with the therapeutic activity of everolimus and tumor-associated immune pathways with ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), circulating lymphocytes, and endothelial cells (CECs) in 3 different HR+ mBC studies, including the BALLET phase IIIb study.

Results

The circulating levels of CD3⁺/CD8⁺, CD3⁺/CD4⁺, and overall T lymphocytes were higher in responders versus non-responders at baseline (p = 0.017, p < 0.001, p = 0.034) and after treatment (p = 0.01, p = 0.003, p = 0.023). Reduced CECs, a tumor neoangiogenesis marker, were observed in responders after treatment (p < 0.001). Patients with low NLR (≤ 4.4) showed a better progression-free survival compared to patients with high NLR (> 4.4) (p = 0.01). IPA showed that the majority of immunity-related genes were found upregulated in responders compared to non-responders before treatment, but not after.

Conclusions

Lymphocytes subpopulations, CECs and NLR could be interesting biomarkers predictive of response to everolimus-based regimens, potentially useful in daily clinical practice to select/monitor everolimus-based treatment in mBC. Further studies to confirm such hypotheses are warranted.

Impact of BMI on the outcome of metastatic breast cancer patients treated with everolimus: a retrospective exploratory analysis of the BALLET study

INTRODUCTION

Reliable biomarkers of response to mTOR inhibition are yet to be identified. As mTOR is heavily implicated in cell-metabolism, we investigated the relation between BMI variation and outcomes in metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients treated with everolimus.

RESULTS

we found a linear correlation between everolimus exposure duration and BMI/weight decrease. Patients exhibiting >2 kg weight loss or >3% BMI decrease from baseline at the end of treatment (EOT) had a statistically significant improvement in PFS. Interestingly, a similar BMI/weight decrease within the first 8 weeks of therapy identified patients at higher risk of progression.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

we performed a retrospective analysis of patients enrolled in the BALLET trial who progressed during the study. Primary end-point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end-point was the identification of other predictors of response.

CONCLUSION

A >3% weight loss at EOT is associated with better outcome in mBC patients treated with everolimus. On the contrary, a significant early weight loss represents a predictor of poor survival and could therefore be used as an early negative prognostic marker. As PI3K-inhibition also converges onto mTOR, these findings might extend to patients treated with selective PI3K inhibitors and warrant further investigation.

The Predictive Role of PIK3CA Mutation Status on PI3K Inhibitors in HR+ Breast Cancer Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim

To evaluate the impact of PIK3CA mutation status on clinical outcomes of HR+ breast cancer treated with PI3K inhibitors.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in online databases from inception to December 31, 2019. The main characteristics and prognostic data of each eligible study were extracted. The odds ratio (OR) for the overall response rate (ORR) and hazard ratio (HR) for progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using the fixed-effects Mantel-Haenszel model.

Results

A total of 8 studies involving 2670 patients were included for analysis. Overall, the clinical outcomes of PI3K inhibitors were significantly influenced by PIK3CA mutation status in HR+ breast cancer. After the treatment of PI3K inhibitors, HR+ breast cancer patients with PIK3CA mutations presented better ORR (PIK3CA-mutated group: OR = 1.98 [95% CI, 1.46 to 2.70]; PIK3CA wild-type group: OR = 1.09 [95% CI, 0.78 to 1.53]) and better PFS (PIK3CA-mutated group: HR = 0.65 [95% CI, 0.55 to 0.76]; PIK3CA wild-type group: HR = 0.87 [95% CI, 0.70 to 1.09]). No publication bias was detected for ORR and PFS in our analysis.

Conclusion

In this meta-analysis, it suggests that the association between clinical outcomes of PI3K inhibitors and PIK3CA mutation status is dramatic. PIK3CA mutations were a favorable factor in the clinical outcomes of HR+ breast cancer treated with PI3K inhibitors.

Everolimus versus alpelisib in advanced hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative breast cancer: targeting different nodes of the PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 pathway with different clinical implications

Background

The PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 axis is implicated in hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (HR+ HER2− mBC) resistance to anti-estrogen treatments. Based on results of the BOLERO-2 trial, the mTORC1 inhibitor everolimus in combination with the steroidal aromatase inhibitor (AI) exemestane has become a standard treatment for patients with HR+ HER2− mBC resistant to prior non-steroidal AI therapy. In the recent SOLAR-1 trial, the inhibitor of the PI3K alpha subunit (p110α) alpelisib in combination with fulvestrant prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) when compared to fulvestrant alone in patients with PIK3CA-mutated HR+ HER2− mBC that progressed after/on previous AI treatment. Therefore, two different molecules targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 axis, namely everolimus and alpelisib, are available for patients progressing on/after previous AI treatment, but it is unclear how to optimize their use in the clinical practice.

Main body of the abstract

Here, we reviewed the available clinical evidence deriving from the BOLERO-2 and SOLAR-1 trials to compare efficacy and safety profiles of everolimus and alpelisib in advanced HR+ HER2− BC treatment. Adding either compound to standard endocrine therapy provided similar absolute and relative PFS advantage. In the SOLAR-1 trial, a 76% incidence of grade (G) 3 or 4 (G3/G4) adverse events was reported, while G3/G4 toxicities occurred in 42% of patients in the BOLERO-2 trial. While alpelisib was only effective in patients with PIK3CA-mutated neoplasms, retrospective analyses indicate that everolimus improves exemestane efficacy independently of PIK3CA mutational status.

Conclusions

Based on the available efficacy and safety data, the “new” alpelisib may be burdened by higher incidence of severe adverse events, higher costs, and anticancer efficacy that is limited to PIK3CA-mutated tumors when compared to the “old” everolimus. Therefore, the everolimus-exemestane combination remains an effective and reasonably well-tolerated therapeutic option for HR+ HER2− mBC patients progressing after/on previous AI treatment, independently of PIK3CA mutational status.

Everolimus plus exemestane in hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer: incidence and time course of adverse events in the phase IIIb BALLET population

BACKGROUND

The addition of everolimus to exemestane therapy significantly improves progression-free survival in postmenopausal patients with hormone-receptor (HR)-positive HER2-negative endocrine-resistant breast cancer. However, the safety profile of this schedule still might be optimized.

METHODS

Patients included in the BALLET trial were assessed. The objectives of this analysis were to provide additional information on the safety profile of this schedule depending on prior anticancer therapies and to characterize the time course of adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs) of clinical interest throughout the study period. Non-infectious pneumonitis (NIP), stomatitis, asthenia and weight loss were selected as AEs of clinical interest.

RESULTS

The safety population of this analysis comprised 2131 patients. There were similar incidences of AEs and SAEs of clinical interest regardless of previous anticancer therapies. Most stomatitis and asthenia events occurred within the first three months. Incidence of weight loss appeared to plateau except in the case of grade 3-4 events, which occurred rarely. The incidence of any grade NIP (between 2 to 6%) and grade 3-4 NIP (between 0 to 1%) was low across the study, but steady.

CONCLUSIONS

Everolimus plus exemestane is a well-known therapeutic option for aromatase inhibitor pretreated advanced breast cancer patients, and its toxicity profile is similar to that described in previous studies. Close monitoring, especially within the first three months, early intervention with preventive measures and patient education to help recognize the first signs and symptoms of AEs, will help to reduce their incidence and severity.

Endocrine therapies in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, pretreated, advanced breast cancer: A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recently, many endocrine therapies have become available for hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, pretreated, advanced breast cancer. Direct comparisons of these novel treatments to assess their added value, however, are lacking METHODS:: Our aim was to synthesize available evidence to compare all current endocrine treatments for hormone receptor-positive / human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer. We performed a systematic review to identify available randomized controlled trial evidence. We searched Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials. Two trials presented at international oncology congresses (American Society of Clinical Oncology [ASCO]) were added to include the most recent evidence. A frequent network meta-analysis was used, and the surface under cumulative ranking area (SUCRA) was calculated to determine the best treatment RESULTS:: In total, 32 trials and 12,726 patients were identified, including 27 arms. Compared with fulvestrant 500 mg alone, novel target inhibitors combined with fulvestrant or exemestane had significantly prolonged progression-free survival with hazard ratios ranging from 0.62 to 0.82. Fulvestrant 500 mg plus palbociclib 125 mg and exemestane 25 mg plus entinostat 5 mg similarly extended progression-free survival (hazard ratio: 0.64 and 0.62 with SUCRA values of 91% and 92%, respectively). The exemestane 25 mg plus everolimus 10 mg combination had the best clinical benefit rate (risk ratio: 1.84, SUCRA: 91%) and overall response rate (risk ratio: 6.05, SUCRA: 97%) CONCLUSIONS:: On the basis of this analysis, the 2 combinations of exemestane plus everolimus and fulvestrant plus palbociclib were the best treatment options.

AK4 Promotes the Progression of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer by Facilitating Cell Proliferation and Invasion

Breast cancer (BC) is a type of malignant tumor originating from the epithelial tissue of the mammary gland, and about 20% of breast cancers are human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+), which is a subtype with more aggression. Recently, HER2-positive breast cancer is often accompanied by poor prognosis of patients, and targeted therapy showed a promising prospect. To combat this disease, novel therapeutic targets are still needed. Adenylate kinase 4 (AK4) is a member of the adenylate kinase family and is expressed in the mitochondrial matrix. AK4 is involved in multiple cellular functions such as energy metabolism homeostasis. Interestingly, AK4 was observed highly expressed in several tumor tissues, and the involvement of AK4 in cancer development was generally revealed. However, the possible role of AK4 on the growth and development of breast cancer is still unclear. Here, we investigated the possible functions of AK4 on the progression of HER2-positive breast cancer. We found the high expression of AK4 in HER2-positive breast cancer tissues from patients who received surgical treatment. Additionally, AK4 expression levels were obviously correlated with clinical-pathological features, including pTNM stage (P = 0.017) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.046). We mechanically confirmed that AK4 depletion showed the obvious impairment of cell proliferation and invasion in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. AK4 also facilitates tumor growth and metastasis of HER2-positive breast cancer in vivo. In conclusion, we identified and mechanically confirmed that AK4 is a novel therapeutic target of HER2-positive breast cancer.

Stomatitis And Everolimus: A Review Of Current Literature On 8,201 Patients

Background

Oral toxicities, such as mucositis and stomatitis, are some of the most significant and unavoidable side effects associated with anticancer therapies. In past decades, research has focused on newer targeted agents with the aim of decreasing the rates of side effects on healthy cells. Unfortunately, even targeted anticancer therapies show significant rates of toxicity on healthy tissue. mTOR inhibitors display some adverse events, such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypophosphatemia, hematologic toxicities, and mucocutaneous eruption, but the most important are still stomatitis and skin rash, which are often dose-limiting side effects.

Aim

This review was performed to answer the question “What is the incidence of stomatitis in patients treated with everolimus?”

Methods

We conducted a systematic search on the PubMed and Medline online databases using a combination of MESH terms and free text: “everolimus” (MESH) AND “side effects” OR “toxicities” OR “adverse events”. Only studies fulfilling the following inclusion criteria were considered eligible for inclusion in this study: performed on human subjects, reporting on the use of everolimus (even if in combination with other drugs or ionizing radiation), written in the English language, and reporting the incidence of side effects.

Results

The analysis of literature revealed that the overall incidence of stomatitis after treatment with everolimus was 42.6% (3,493) and that of stomatitis grade G1/2 84.02% (2,935), while G3/4 was 15.97% (558).

Conclusion

Results of the analysis showed that the incidence of stomatitis of grade 1 or 2 is higher than grade 3 or 4. However, it must be taken into account that it is not possible to say if side effects are entirely due to everolimus therapy or combinations with other drugs.

Everolimus Plus Exemestane vs Everolimus or Capecitabine Monotherapy for Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: The BOLERO-6 Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Everolimus plus exemestane and capecitabine are approved second-line therapies for advanced breast cancer.

Objective

A postapproval commitment to health authorities to estimate the clinical benefit of everolimus plus exemestane vs everolimus or capecitabine monotherapy for estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer.

Design

Open-label, randomized, phase 2 trial of treatment effects in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer that had progressed during treatment with nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors.

Interventions

Patients were randomized to 3 treatment regimens: (1) everolimus (10 mg/d) plus exemestane (25 mg/d); (2) everolimus alone (10 mg/d); and (3) capecitabine alone (1250 mg/m2 twice daily).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Estimated hazard ratios (HRs) of progression-free survival (PFS) for everolimus plus exemestane vs everolimus alone (primary objective) or capecitabine alone (key secondary objective). Safety was a secondary objective. No formal statistical comparisons were planned.

Results

A total of 309 postmenopausal women were enrolled, median age, 61 years (range, 32-88 years). Of these, 104 received everolimus plus exemestane; 103, everolimus alone; and 102, capecitabine alone. Median follow-up from randomization to the analysis cutoff (June 1, 2017) was 37.6 months. Estimated HR of PFS was 0.74 (90% CI, 0.57-0.97) for the primary objective of everolimus plus exemestane vs everolimus alone and 1.26 (90% CI, 0.96-1.66) for everolimus plus exemestane vs capecitabine alone. Between treatment arms, potential informative censoring was noted, and a stratified multivariate Cox regression model was used to account for imbalances in baseline characteristics; a consistent HR was observed for everolimus plus exemestane vs everolimus (0.73; 90% CI, 0.56-0.97), but the HR was closer to 1 for everolimus plus exemestane vs capecitabine (1.15; 90% CI, 0.86-1.52). Grade 3 to 4 adverse events were more frequent with capecitabine (74%; n = 75) vs everolimus plus exemestane (70%; n = 73) or everolimus alone (59%; n = 61). Serious adverse events were more frequent with everolimus plus exemestane (36%; n = 37) vs everolimus alone (29%; n = 30) or capecitabine (29%; n = 30).

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings suggest that everolimus plus exemestane combination therapy offers a PFS benefit vs everolimus alone, and they support continued use of this therapy in this setting. A numerical PFS difference with capecitabine vs everolimus plus exemestane should be interpreted cautiously owing to imbalances among baseline characteristics and potential informative censoring.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01783444.

Everolimus Exposure and Early Metabolic Response as Predictors of Treatment Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Everolimus and Exemestane

BACKGROUND

Treating breast cancer patients with everolimus and exemestane can be challenging due to toxicity and suboptimal treatment responses.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated whether everolimus exposure and early metabolic response are predictors for toxicity and effectiveness in these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed pharmacokinetic assessments 14 and 35 days after starting treatment. [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (¹⁸F-FDG-PET) was performed at baseline, and 14 and 35 days after the start of the therapy. We recorded toxicity, defined as dose interventions within 3 months, and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Among 44 evaluable patients, the geometric mean (GM) C_trough was higher in patients with toxicity compared to patients without (17.4 versus 12.3 μg/L (p = 0.02)). The optimal cut-off value to predict toxicity was C_trough > 19.2 μg/L. GM C_trough of patients with and without progressive disease (PD) within 3 months was not significantly different (12.0 versus 15.2 μg/L (p = 0.118)). In 28 evaluable patients, PD within 3 months could best be predicted using the percentage decrease in peak standardized uptake value normalized by lean body mass of the lesion with highest FDG uptake (SUL_{peak high}) at day 14. Patients with <11% versus >11% decrease in SUL_{peak high} at day 14 had a median PFS of 90 days versus 411 days, respectively (p = 0.0013) and more frequently had PD within 3 months: 70 vs 11%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that everolimus toxicity is related to everolimus C_trough. No relation was observed between everolimus exposure and treatment effectiveness. An early FDG-PET can identify patients at high risk of nonresponse. These results warrant further validation. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01948960.

Endocrine and Targeted Therapy for Hormone-Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: Insights to Sequencing Treatment and Overcoming Resistance Based on Clinical Trials

Background: Advanced hormone-receptor positive HER2 negative breast cancer is a common and a very heterogeneous disease. Hormone therapy is the main first line treatment of choice, given alone or in combination with other agents that have shown to improve patient outcomes, Nevertheless, treatment remains generally palliative rather than curative. Sequencing of such treatment remains challenging, especially with resurgence of variable resistance patterns. Multiple attempts have been made to overcome resistance and improve patient survival, yet resistance remains not very well understood and metastatic cancer remains a disease with dismal prognosis.

Methods: In this paper, we searched pubmed database as well as local and international meetings for all studies discussing advanced and metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, her2-negative breast cancer, hormonal treatment, resistance to hormonal treatment, mechanism of resistance, and means to overcome such resistance.

Conclusion: There does not exist an optimal treatment sequence for hormone-receptor-positive, her2-negative advanced breast cancer. However, after review of literature, a reasonable approach may be starting with tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, or fulvestrant in absence of visceral crisis, in addition to ensuring adequate ovarian function suppression in pre/peri-menopausal women. Aromatase inhibitors and fulvestrant seem to be superior. Resistance to such agents is increasing, mostly attributed to genetic and molecular changes. Multiple modalities are addressed to overcome such resistance including use of CKD4/6 inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors and PI3K inhibitors in addition to other agents under study, all with promising results. CDK4/6 inhibitors work best when used in frontline setting. Finally, treatment of breast cancer remains a growing field, and more studies are to be awaited.

Clinical Predictive Factors for the Efficacy of Everolimus in Patients With Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study in Japan

Purpose:

To investigate the clinical predictive factors for the efficacy of everolimus (EVE) for advanced/metastatic breast cancer (AMBC).

Methods:

Routine practice data of consecutive patients with AMBC who received EVE at 5 institutions in western Japan were retrospectively analyzed in this cohort study (study registration no.: UMIN 000032569). The correlation among time to treatment failure (TTF), overall survival (OS), and clinical background was investigated via univariate and multivariate analyses using Cox hazards model for the clinically important variables.

Results:

A total of 134 patients were included in the analysis. The median TTF and OS were 5.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.1-6.4) and 27.3 months (95% CI: 23.7-30.9), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that dose reduction of EVE from any initial dose was associated with a longer TTF (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.32-0.84, P = .007). Meanwhile, very low hormone sensitivity (ie, relapse within the first 2 years during adjuvant endocrine therapy or progression within 3 months of endocrine therapy immediately before EVE) was associated with a shorter TTF (HR: 2.48; 95% CI: 1.49-4.10, P < .001). In the analysis of stratified treatment outcomes, TTF was longer in the group with <3 liver metastases and in groups other than the very low hormone sensitivity group, regardless of the treatment line of EVE.

Conclusions:

Low hormone sensitivity and ⩾3 liver metastases were important prognostic factors for the efficacy of EVE. EVE may be less effective in patients with AMBC with these factors, and as such, chemotherapy should be administered instead.

A real-life study on the implementation and effectiveness of exemestane plus everolimus per hospital type in patients with advanced breast cancer. A study of the Southeast Netherlands Advanced Breast Cancer registry

PURPOSE

We aimed to assess the implementation and effectiveness of exemestane plus everolimus treatment per hospital type in real-life, shortly after approval of everolimus.

METHODS

Advanced breast cancer patients treated with exemestane plus everolimus in 2012-2014 were included from the SONABRE registry. Progression-free survival (PFS) and a 12-week conditional PFS (post-hoc) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. The multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was performed by type of hospital and adjusted for patient, tumour and treatment characteristics.

RESULTS

We included 122 patients, comprising 48 patients treated in academic (N = 1), 56 in teaching (N = 4), and 18 in non-teaching (N = 2) hospitals. The median PFS was 6.3 months (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 4.0-8.6) overall, and 8.5 months (95% CI 7.7-9.3), 4.2 months (95% CI 2.0-6.3), and 5.5 months (95% CI 4.2-6.7) for the patients treated in academic, teaching and non-teaching hospitals, respectively. The adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR) for PFS-events was 1.5 (95% CI 1.0-2.2) and 1.0 (95% CI 0.5-1.9) respectively for patients treated at teaching and non-teaching hospitals versus the academic hospital. The adjusted HR for 12-week conditional PFS-events was not different between hospital types. In the first 12-week treatment period, treatment was discontinued due to early progression in one out of 48 patients in the academic versus nine out of 74 patients in the non-academic hospitals, confirmed by imaging in one and two patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, the median PFS was borderline significantly different between hospital types, possibly the result of a different assessment approach in the first 12-week treatment period.

Oral stomatitis and mTOR inhibitors: A review of current evidence in 20,915 patients

BACKGROUND

Traditional treatment of malignancies with chemotherapeutic agents is often affected by the damage inflicted on non-cancerous cells. Toxicities of the oral cavity, such as mucositis and stomatitis, are some of the most significant and unavoidable toxicities associated with anti-cancer therapies. For such reason, in the last decades, newer targeted agents have been developed aiming to decrease the rates of side effects on healthy cells. Unfortunately, targeted anti-cancer therapies also showed significant rate of toxicity on healthy tissues. mTOR inhibitors showed some adverse events, such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypophosphatemia, hematologic toxicities, and mucocutaneous eruption, but the most important are still stomatitis and skin rash, often reported as dose-limiting side effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A search of the literature was performed by authors on the PubMed online database using the following key words: "sirolimus" OR "everolimus" OR "temsirolimus" OR "deforolimus" OR "ridaforolimus" combined with the Boolean operator AND with the terms: "stomatitis" OR "mucositis" OR "oral pain." Titles and abstracts of 382 potentially relevant studies were screened; of these, 114 studies were excluded because they did not report the inclusion criteria. In the second round, 268 studies were read full-text, but only 135 reported the inclusion criteria and were included for data extraction. Of the included studies, 95 referred to everolimus use, 16 to ridaforolimus, and 26 to temsirolimus (two studies referred to both everolimus and temsirolimus).

RESULTS

The incidence rate of stomatitis according to the agent used was 25.07% (3,959/15,787) for everolimus, 27.02% (724/2,679) for temsirolimus, and 54.76% (598/1,092) for ridaforolimus. All the three agents analyzed showed high rates of low-grade stomatitis (G1-G2), while the onset of severe stomatitis (G3-G4) was rare.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of the reports with patients treated with everolimus, temsirolimus, and ridaforolimus showed a clear prevalence of stomatitis grade 1 or 2. These data differ from that of patients treated with conventional chemotherapy in which mucositis is predominantly of grade 3 or 4.

Current Landscape of Targeted Therapies for Hormone-Receptor Positive, HER2 Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

The majority of deaths from MBC are in patients with hormone receptor (HR) positive, HER2 negative disease. Endocrine therapy (ET) remains the backbone of treatment in these cases, improving survival and quality of life. However, treatment can lose effectiveness due to primary or acquired endocrine resistance. Analysis of mechanisms of ET resistance has led to the development of a new generation of targeted therapies for advanced breast cancer. In addition to anti-estrogen therapy with selective estrogen receptor modulators, aromatase inhibitors, and/or selective estrogen receptor degraders, combinations with cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors have led to substantial progression free survival (PFS) improvements in the first and second line settings. While the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is known to be an important growth pathway in HR positive breast cancer, PI3K inhibitors have been disappointing due to modest effect sizes and significant toxicity. The mTOR inhibitor everolimus significantly improves progression free survival when added to ET, and recent studies have improved supportive care allowing less toxicity. While these combination targeted therapies improve outcomes and often delay initiation of chemotherapy, long term overall survival data are lacking and data for the ideal strategy for sequencing these agents remains unclear. Ongoing research evaluating potential biomarkers and mechanisms of resistance is anticipated to continue to improve outcomes for patients with HR positive metastatic breast cancer. In this review, we will discuss management and ongoing challenges in the treatment of advanced HR positive, HER2 negative breast cancer, highlighting single agent and combination endocrine therapies, targeted therapies including palbociclib, ribociclib, abemaciclib, and everolimus, and sequencing of therapies in the clinic.

Everolimus (EVE) and exemestane (EXE) in patients with advanced breast cancer aged ≥ 65 years: new lessons for clinical practice from the EVA study

BACKGROUND

The present analysis focuses on real-world data of Everolimus-Exemestane in advanced HR+ve, HER2-ve elderly breast cancer patients (aged 65 years) included in the EVA study, with unique findings in those aged 70 years.

METHODS

Data are collected from clinical records and analysed according to age cut-off (< 65 years; 65 - 69 years and {greater than or equal to} 70 years). Relationship of analyzed variables with response were tested by mean of a Mantel-Haenszel chi square test. Time to event analysis was described by Kaplan Meier approach and association with baseline characteristics was analysed by stratified log-rank test and proportional hazard model.

RESULTS

From July 2013 to December 2015, the EVA study enrolled overall 404 pts. 154 patients out of 404 (38,1%) were aged {greater than or equal to} 65 years, of whom 87 were {greater than or equal to} 70 years. Median duration of EVE treatment was 28.5 weeks (95% CI 19.0 - 33.8) in patients aged 65-69 years and 24,4 weeks (95% CI 19,2 - 33,2) in those aged {greater than or equal to} 70 years. Fewer patients aged 65 years received the highest EVE Dose-Intensity (>7.5 mg/day) in comparison to younger patients (49,6% vs. 66,8%). Grade 3–4 toxicities occurred to 55 patients (35,7%), mainly stomatitis (10,9%), rash (5,8%) and non-infectious pneumonitis (NIP) (3,6%). Some toxicities, such as weight loss and anaemia were peculiarly observed in patients aged {greater than or equal to} 70 years. Five treatment-related deaths were collected (3,2%).

CONCLUSIONS

EVE-EXE combination remains one of the potential treatments in HR+ patients also for elderly ones.

Pharmacotherapeutic Management of Breast Cancer in Elderly Patients: The Promise of Novel Agents

As its incidence increases with age, breast cancer in elderly patients takes on a growing importance in clinical oncology practice. Management decisions are challenging because there is a lack of high-quality evidence in this heterogeneous population. Epidemiological studies have shown that breast cancer mortality does not decrease substantially in the older population compared with younger adults. Recent data suggest a phenotype somewhat different from that of younger patients, also confirmed at the molecular level. Breast cancer biology has been incompletely deciphered in this age group. New therapeutic agents continue to expand the available treatment options at every stage, and for each subtype of breast cancer. In the estrogen receptor-positive subtype, agents to overcome endocrine resistance have been introduced; CDK 4/6 and mTOR inhibitors have already been approved in this setting. In addition, more potent agents targeting the HER2 pathway are actively being trialed. Besides trastuzumab, pertuzumab, or lapatinib, new agents like neratinib or PI3K inhibitors are currently being tested in clinical trials. Finally, even though chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of the treatment of triple negative tumors, alternative promising approaches such as immunotherapy, notably antibodies against PD-1/PD-L1 or targeted therapies (PARP or androgen inhibitors), are currently being investigated in this specific subtype.

Everolimus-based combination therapies for HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Endocrine therapy is the standard of care for the most common subtype of MBC, hormone-receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) disease. Advances in treating this type of MBC have focused on improving the efficacy of endocrine therapy by adding agents that target specific molecular pathways of breast cancer cell growth and survival. The combination of the aromatase inhibitor exemestane and the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, everolimus, more than doubled median progression-free survival compared with exemestane alone (7.8 vs 3.2 months, respectively; hazard ratio 0.45 [95% confidence interval 0.38-0.54]; log rank P < 0.0001) in the BOLERO-2 study in postmenopausal women with HR+, HER2- locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that had recurred or progressed on prior non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor therapy. In addition, everolimus plus exemestane was associated with a manageable safety profile. The results of BOLERO-2 led to regulatory approval of everolimus plus exemestane. Additional everolimus-based combinations have been or are under investigation in the HR+, HER2- MBC setting, including combinations with letrozole, fulvestrant, ribociclib, tamoxifen, and chemotherapy. This review summarizes key data on everolimus-based combinations focusing on efficacy, safety, biomarkers, quality of life, and health economic outcomes. These data are discussed in the context of the changing MBC treatment algorithm to provide insights into the clinical relevance of everolimus-based combinations.

Exemestane and Everolimus combination treatment of hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer: A retrospective study of 9 cancer centers in the Campania Region (Southern Italy) focused on activity, efficacy and safety

Exemestane (Exe) in combination with Everolimus (Eve) represents an important treatment option for patients diagnosed with hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC), which was previously treated with non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors (NSAI). Data from unselected populations may be useful for defining the optimal therapeutic algorithm within a clinical setting. Data from 264 HR+, HER2-MBC patients who received Exe-Eve treatment in combination, following the failure of NSAIs was retrospectively analyzed. Different lines of endocrine treatment (ET) were investigated to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the treatment within the ‘everyday clinical practice’ population. The disease control rate (DCR) was 73.1%, with no statistically significant difference among the different settings. At a median follow-up of 42 months, the median progression free survival (PFS) was 11.6, 9.7 and 7.5 months for patients treated with Exe-Eve as first, second or third line therapy, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation with younger age, no previous adjuvant chemotherapy (CT), no previous adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET), HT duration ≥36 months, involvement of liver and/or lung, no prior CT for metastatic disease and PS=0 at the start of treatment. The median overall survival (OS) was 33.0 months; at a median follow-up of 67 months, the median OS was 43.1, 31.7 and 27.9 months in patients treated with Exe-Eve in first, second or third line therapy, respectively. On multivariate analysis, diabetes and previous CT for metastatic disease were revealed to correlate with a worse outcome. Conversely, the presence of mucositis was significantly associated with long-term survival. Overall, Exe-Eve was typically well tolerated and the majority toxicities were G1 or 2, while treatment discontinuation due to unacceptable toxicity was only required in 5.7% of patients. Despite the limitations due to the observational nature of this study, the findings suggest that treatment with Exe-Eve is an active and safe therapeutic option for endocrine-sensitive MBC patients in a real-world clinical setting, regardless of treatment lines.

Overcoming endocrine resistance in metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer

Endocrine therapy has historically formed the basis of treatment of metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The development of endocrine resistance has led to the development of newer endocrine drug combinations. Use of the CDK4/6 inhibitors has significantly improved progression-free survival in this group of patients. There are multiple studies of the use of P13K inhibitors and mTOR inhibitors for use as subsequent lines of therapy, particularly for endocrine resistance. The optimal sequencing of therapy should be based on medical comorbidities, prior adjuvant therapies, quality of life, side-effect profile, and disease-free interval.

Chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer: An update

Breast cancer is the second greatest cause of death among women worldwide; it comprises a group of heterogeneous diseases that evolves due to uncontrolled cellular growth and differentiation and the loss of normal programmed cell death. There are different molecular sub-types of breast cancer; therefore, various options are selected for treatment of different forms of metastatic breast cancer. However, the use of chemotherapeutic drugs is usually accompanied by deleterious side effects and the development of drug resistance when applied for a longer period. This review offers a classification of these chemotherapeutic agents according to their modes of action and therefore improves the understanding of molecular targets that are affected during treatment. Overall, it will allow the clinician to identify more specific targets to increase the effectiveness of a drug and to reduce general toxicity, resistance and other side effects.