Michael Savin

Blinded, Randomized, Multicenter Study to Evaluate Single Administration Pegfilgrastim Once per Cycle Versus Daily Filgrastim as an Adjunct to Chemotherapy in Patients With High-Risk Stage II or Stage III/IV Breast Cancer

PURPOSEnThis multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-control study was designed to determine whether a single subcutaneous injection of pegfilgrastim (SD/01, sustained-duration filgrastim; 100 microg/kg) is as safe and effective as daily filgrastim (5 microg/kg/d) for reducing neutropenia in patients who received four cycles of myelosuppressive chemotherapy.nnnPATIENTS AND METHODSnSixty-two centers enrolled 310 patients who received chemotherapy with docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) and doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) on day 1 of each cycle for a maximum of four cycles. Patients were randomized to receive on day 2 either a single subcutaneous injection of pegfilgrastim 100 microg/kg per chemotherapy cycle (154 patients) or daily subcutaneous injections of filgrastim 5 microg/kg/d (156 patients). Absolute neutrophil count (ANC), duration of grade 4 neutropenia, and safety parameters were monitored.nnnRESULTSnOne dose of pegfilgrastim per chemotherapy cycle was comparable to daily subcutaneous injections of filgrastim with regard to all efficacy end points, including the duration of severe neutropenia and the depth of ANC nadir in all cycles. Febrile neutropenia across all cycles occurred less often in patients who received pegfilgrastim. The difference in the mean duration of severe neutropenia between the pegfilgrastim and filgrastim treatment groups was less than 1 day. Pegfilgrastim was safe and well tolerated, and it was similar to filgrastim. Adverse event profiles in the pegfilgrastim and filgrastim groups were similar.nnnCONCLUSIONnA single injection of pegfilgrastim 100 microg/kg per cycle was as safe and effective as daily injections of filgrastim 5 microg/kg/d in reducing neutropenia and its complications in patients who received four cycles of doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) and docetaxel 75 mg/m(2).

Phase III Trial Comparing Doxorubicin Plus Cyclophosphamide With Docetaxel Plus Cyclophosphamide As Adjuvant Therapy for Operable Breast Cancer

PURPOSEnThe combination of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) is a standard adjuvant chemotherapy regimen. Studies of docetaxel and cyclophosphamide (TC) in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) showed promise in MBC. In 1997, we initiated a randomized adjuvant trial of TC compared with standard-dose AC with a primary end point of disease-free survival (DFS).nnnPATIENTS AND METHODSnPatients were eligible if they had stage I to III operable invasive breast cancer with complete surgical excision of the primary tumor. Between June 1997 and December 1999, 1,016 patients were randomly assigned to four cycles of either standard-dose AC (60 and 600 mg/m2, respectively; n = 510) or TC (75 and 600 mg/m2, respectively; n = 506), administered intravenously every 3 weeks as adjuvant chemotherapy. Radiation therapy (as indicated) and tamoxifen, for patients with hormone receptor-positive disease, were administered after completion of chemotherapy.nnnRESULTSnBoth treatment groups (TC and AC) were well balanced with respect to major prognostic factors. Patients were observed through 2005 for a median of 5.5 years. At 5 years, DFS rate was significantly superior for TC compared with AC (86% v 80%, respectively; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.94; P = .015). Overall survival rates for TC and AC were 90% and 87%, respectively (HR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.52 to 1.1; P = .13). More myalgia, arthralgia, edema, and febrile neutropenia occurred on the TC arm; more nausea and vomiting occurred on the AC arm as well as one incident of congestive heart failure.nnnCONCLUSIONnAt 5 years, TC was associated with a superior DFS and a different toxicity profile compared with AC.

Phase II Study of Weekly Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel for Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Heavily Pretreated with Taxanes

PURPOSEnNanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel, a solvent-free, albumin-bound paclitaxel, demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with taxane-naive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We examined albumin-bound paclitaxel (100 mg/m2 or 125 mg/m2 administered weekly) to determine the antitumor activity in patients with MBC whose disease progressed despite conventional taxane therapy.nnnPATIENTS AND METHODSnWomen with MBC that was previously treated with taxanes were eligible for participation. Taxane failure was defined as metastatic disease progression during taxane therapy or relapse within 12 months of adjuvant taxane therapy. Primary objectives were response rates (RRs) and the safety/tolerability of albumin-bound paclitaxel.nnnRESULTSnWomen were treated with albumin-bound paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 (n = 106) or 125 mg/m2 (n = 75) on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Response rates were 14% and 16% for the 100-mg/m2 and 125-mg/m2 cohorts, respectively; an additional 12% and 21% of patients, respectively, had stable disease (SD) > or = 16 weeks. Median progression-free survival times were 3 months at 100 mg/m2 and 3.5 months at 125 mg/m2; median survival times were 9.2 months and 9.1 months, respectively. Survival was similar for responding patients and those with SD. No severe hypersensitivity reactions were reported. Patients who developed treatment-limiting peripheral neuropathy typically could be restarted on a reduced dose of albumin-bound paclitaxel after a 1-2-week delay. Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in < 5% of patients.nnnCONCLUSIONnAlbumin-bound paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 given weekly demonstrated the same antitumor activity as albumin-bound paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 weekly and a more favorable safety profile in patients with MBC that had progressed with previous taxane therapy. Survival of patients with SD > or = 16 weeks was similar to that of responders.

Pemetrexed in Relapsed Small-Cell Lung Cancer and the Impact of Shortened Vitamin Supplementation Lead-In Time: Results of a Phase II Trial

Introduction: We undertook a phase II trial to assess the efficacy and safety of single-agent pemetrexed (P) in relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. Methods: Patients had limited- or extensive-stage SCLC, performance status 0 to 2, and one prior chemotherapy regimen. Initial P dose was 500 mg/m2 every 21 days. Planned sample sizes were 36 sensitive (S) patients in a two-stage sequential fashion with early stopping rule, and 25 refractory (R) patients in a single-stage design without stopping rule. Patients received folic acid and Vitamin B12 prior to P, and B12 could be given up until P treatment. Primary outcome measure was response rate. Results: Enrollment occurred from July 2004 to March 2006. The stopping rule was invoked when <3 of 14 S patients responded. The protocol was amended to evaluate P 900 mg/m2 in cohorts of 40 S and 40 R patients. Overall, 121 patients were enrolled, with 116 patients treated. S (n = 53) and R (n = 63) patients were analyzed separately at both dose levels. Across the 4 treatment groups (S500, S900, R500, R900), 1 patient (2.63%) in the S900 group had a partial response. Overall, 18 patients (16%) had stable disease. Eighty-seven patients (75%) had progressive disease. Responses were not evaluable in 10 patients (8.6%). Overall response rate was 0.9%. Across treatment groups, disease control rates (partial response + stable disease) were 20%, 15.8%, 21.7%, and 12.5%, respectively. Median time to progression ranged from 1.2 to 1.5 months, median survival times ranged from 2.5 to 6.1 months, and 1-year survival rates ranged from 5.6 to 25.8%. Common grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities (at 500 and 900 mg/m2) were neutropenia (16%; 9%) and leukopenia (11%; 8%), and nonhematologic toxicities were dyspnea (11%; 10%) and fatigue (16%; 9%). Retrospective analysis of cycle 1 events by timing of B12 administration showed no trend toward more frequent serious toxicities when B12 was given <7 days prior to P. Conclusions: Single-agent P 500 mg/m2 shows minimal activity in relapsed SCLC patients. P can be given at 900 mg/m2 without significant increase in serious toxicities, but does not seem to increase efficacy. B12 given <7 days before P does not seem to be associated with increased serious toxicities.

A Phase II Study of Eribulin Mesylate (E7389) in Patients With Advanced, Previously Treated Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUNDnThe efficacy of third-line and further-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unknown.nnnPATIENTS AND METHODSnWe evaluated the clinical outcome of third- and fourth-line chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced NSCLC in consecutive patients who received first-line chemotherapy at our institute between July 2002 and June 2006. From a hospital-based registry, the following data were extracted: (a) patient characteristics, (b) type of chemotherapeutic agents, and (c) objective response and survival data.nnnRESULTSnA total of 599 patients were included in this analysis. Overall, 69.3%, 38.4%, 17.7%, and 6.0% of the patients received second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-line chemotherapy, respectively. Significant differences in age (P < .0001), performance status at the start of first-line chemotherapy (P < .0001), and histology (P = .0175) were observed between patients who received third-line chemotherapy and those who did not. Docetaxel, gefitinib, and S-1 were the most frequently used regimens for third- or fourth-line chemotherapy. Five percent of the patients had participated in phase I trials of investigational new drugs. The objective response rates and disease control rates of third- and fourth-line chemotherapy were 17.0% and 34.4% and 11.3% and 24.5%, respectively. The median survival times (95% confidence interval [CI]) from the start of first-, second-, third-, and fourth-line chemotherapy until death were 15.3 months (95% CI, 13.8-16.5 months), 12.8 months (95% CI, 10.7-14.5 months), 12.0 months (95% CI, 9.3-14.2 months), and 9.9 months (95% CI, 8.6-12.0 months), respectively.nnnCONCLUSIONnAs many as 38% of patients with advanced NSCLC who received first-line chemotherapy could receive third-line chemotherapy. This result emphasizes the need for randomized controlled trials of third-line treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC.INTRODUCTIONnThis open-label phase II study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of eribulin, a non-taxane microtubule dynamics inhibitor with novel mechanism of action, as monotherapy in patients who have advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).nnnPATIENTS AND METHODSnEnrolled patients had progressed during or after platinum-based doublet chemotherapy. Initially, two patient cohorts (taxane-pre-treated and taxane-naïve) received eribulin mesylate (1.4 mg/m(2)) as a 2- to 5-minute intravenous infusion on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. To assess tolerability of a second dosing schedule, a cohort of taxane-pre-treated patients received eribulin on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) evaluated using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) by independent radiographic review.nnnRESULTSnOne hundred three patients received eribulin. The ORR was 9.7% (all partial responses [PR]). Overall disease control rate (PR + stable disease) was 55.3%. Median duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival were 5.8, 3.4, and 9.4 months, respectively. The most common drug-related adverse events were neutropenia (54%; 49% grade 3/4); fatigue (49%; 11% grade 3, no grade 4); nausea (38%; 1% grade 3, no grade 4); alopecia (32%); anemia (29%, 4% grade 3/4) and neuropathy (23%; 2% grade 3, no grade 4). The 28-day schedule was associated with many dose delays, interruptions, or omissions due to neutropenia (day 15). The 21-day cycle was well-tolerated.nnnCONCLUSIONSnEribulin monotherapy administered on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle is active and tolerated as second- or later-line chemotherapy for NSCLC.

Quantitative measurement of HER2 expression in breast cancers: comparison with 'real-world' routine HER2 testing in a multicenter Collaborative Biomarker Study and correlation with overall survival

IntroductionAccurate assessment of HER2 status is critical in determining appropriate therapy for breast cancer patients but the best HER2 testing methodology has yet to be defined. In this study, we compared quantitative HER2 expression by the HERmark™ Breast Cancer Assay (HERmark) with routine HER2 testing by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and correlated HER2 results with overall survival (OS) of breast cancer patients in a multicenter Collaborative Biomarker Study (CBS).MethodsTwo hundred and thirty-two formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissues and local laboratory HER2 testing results were provided by 11 CBS sites. HERmark assay and central laboratory HER2 IHC retesting were retrospectively performed in a blinded fashion. HER2 results by all testing methods were obtained in 192 cases.ResultsHERmark yielded a continuum of total HER2 expression (H2T) ranging from 0.3 to 403 RF/mm2 (approximately 3 logs). The distribution of H2T levels correlated significantly (P <0.0001) with all routine HER2 testing results. The concordance of positive and negative values (equivocal cases excluded) between HERmark and routine HER2 testing was 84% for local IHC, 96% for central IHC, 85% for local FISH, and 84% for local HER2 status. OS analysis revealed a significant correlation of shorter OS with HER2 positivity by local IHC (HRu2009=u20092.6, Pu2009=u20090.016), central IHC (HRu2009=u20093.2, Pu2009=u20090.015), and HERmark (HRu2009=u20095.1, P <0.0001) in this cohort of patients most of whom received no HER2-targeted therapy. The OS curve of discordant low (HER2 positive but H2T low, 10% of all cases) was aligned with concordant negative (HER2 negative and H2T low, HRu2009=u20091.9, Pu2009=u20090.444), but showed a significantly longer OS than concordant positive (HER2 positive and H2T high, HRu2009=u20090.31, Pu2009=u20090.024). Conversely, the OS curve of discordant high (HER2 negative but H2T high, 9% of all cases) was aligned with concordant positive (HRu2009=u20090.41, Pu2009=u20090.105), but showed a significantly shorter OS than concordant negative (HRu2009=u200941, P <0.0001).ConclusionsQuantitative HER2 measurement by HERmark is highly sensitive, accurately quantifies HER2 protein expression and correlates well with routine HER2 testing. When HERmark and local HER2 results were discordant, HERmark more accurately predicted overall survival.