EVEROLIMUS FOR HER2+ REFRACTORY BREAST CANCER

J Clin Oncol. 2011 Jul 5. [Epub ahead of print]

Phase I/II Study of Trastuzumab in Combination With Everolimus (RAD001) in Patients With HER2-Overexpressing Metastatic Breast Cancer Who Progressed on Trastuzumab-Based Therapy.

Khanh Morrow P, Wulf GM, Ensor J, Booser DJ, Moore JA, Flores PR, Xiong Y, Zhang S, Krop IE, Winer EP, Kindelberger DW, Coviello J, Sahin AA, Nuñez R, Hortobagyi GN, Yu D, Esteva FJ.

Source

Phuong Khanh Morrow, Joe Ensor, Daniel J. Booser, Julia A. Moore, Peter R. Flores, Yan Xiong, Siyuan Zhang, Aysegul A. Sahin, Rodolfo Nuñez, Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, Dihua Yu, Francisco J. Esteva, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Gerburg M. Wulf, Jeanna Coviello, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Ian E. Krop, Eric P. Winer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; David W. Kindelberger, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.

Abstract

PURPOSE Trastuzumab resistance has been linked to activation of the phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a dual phosphatase that counteracts the PI3K function; PTEN loss leads to activation of the Akt cascade and the downstream mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Preclinical studies demonstrated that mTOR inhibition sensitized the response to trastuzumab in mice with HER2 overexpressing and PTEN-deficient breast xenografts. Our trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of the combination of everolimus and trastuzumab in women with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer (MBC) that progressed on trastuzumab-based therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS This represents a pooled analysis (n = 47), stemming from two trials that occurred concurrently in The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Patients with HER2-overexpressing MBC who had progressed on trastuzumab-based therapy received trastuzumab every 3 weeks in combination with daily everolimus. Results Among 47 patients, the combination of everolimus and trastuzumab provided partial responses in seven patients (15%) and persistent stable disease (lasting 6 months or longer) in nine patients (19%), resulting in a clinical benefit rate of 34%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.1 month. Fatigue, infection, and mucositis were the predominant nonhematologic toxicities. Trastuzumab did not have significant influence on the pharmacokinetic profile of everolimus. Patients with PTEN loss demonstrated decreased overall survival (P = .048). However, PFS was not affected by PTEN loss. CONCLUSION Inhibition of mTOR results in clinical benefit and disease response in patients with trastuzumab-resistant HER2-overexpressing MBC.