Patient case: 70-year-old female with breast cancer; genetic feature: AURKA amplification

Clinical trial: Cardiac Safety Study in Patients With HER2 + Breast Cancer

Summary: HER2 positive breast cancer cells have more HER2 receptor (a protein on the surface of cells) than normal breast cells. Approximately 30% of patients with breast cancer have HER2 positive breast cancer. Before HER2 targeted therapies (i.e. treatments that directly block the receptor HER2) were developed, patients with HER2 positive breast cancer had a very aggressive form of disease. With the use of trastuzumab, an anticancer drug that directly targets the receptor HER2, and more recently, pertuzumab and ado-trastuzumab emtansine, patients are able to live longer and have better control of their cancer.
  Unfortunately the use of HER2 targeted therapies can increase the risk of heart problems and for this reason these treatments were only studied and approved for patients with normal heart function.
  In this study we plan to give HER2 targeted therapies to patients with HER2 positive breast cancer and mildly decreased heart function along with concomitant evaluation by a heart doctor (called cardiologist) and appropriate medications to strengthen the heart. We will do frequent monitoring of the heart function with a test called echocardiogram that will give us a detailed "picture" of the heart. We will also draw blood along with routine blood tests to try to understand why some patients develop heart problems and others do not. The study will take a maximum of 12 months and patients will be monitored for 6 additional months.
  We hypothesize that it is safe to administer HER2 targeted therapies to patients with breast cancer and mildly decreased heart function, i.e. LVEF between 40 and 50%, while on appropriate heart medications.

Detailed description: Title: A pilot study evaluating the cardiac safety of HER2 targeted therapy (non-lapatinib) in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer and reduced left ventricular function Phase: Pilot study Study Duration: 4 years with up to 5 additional years of follow up Study Center(s): 3 centers will be participating: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC), MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) Primary Objective: To evaluate the cardiac safety of HER2 targeted therapy (non-lapatinib) in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) when given concomitantly with cardiac treatment.
  Secondary Objectives:
  -  To evaluate time to development of cardiac event or asymptomatic worsening of cardiac function
  -  Absolute changes in LVEF
  -  Delays in HER2 therapy attributed to cardiac causes
  -  Correlations between echocardiographic myocardial strain
  -  cTnI and hs-cTnT at baseline and over time with cardiac events and asymptomatic worsening of cardiac function Sample size: 30 patients
  Diagnosis and Main Inclusion Criteria:
  -  HER2 positive breast cancer, stage I-IV.
  -  Mildly decreased cardiac function (LVEF between 40 and 49%) prior to or while receiving non-lapatinib HER2 targeted therapy
  Cardiac Intervention:
  - Beta-blockers and ACE-inhibitors titrated to the maximum tolerated doses
  Oncology study Products, Doses, Routes, Regimens:
  -  Trastuzumab: loading dose of 8 mg/kg IV, followed by a maintenance dose of 6 mg/kg every 3 weeks, or a loading dose of 4 mg/kg followed by a maintenance dose of 2 mg/kg every week.
  -  Pertuzumab: loading dose of 840 mg IV, followed by 420 mg IV every 3 weeks, administered concomitantly with trastuzumab.
  -  Ado-trastuzumab emtansine: 3.6mg/kg IV every three weeks. Note: both trastuzumab and pertuzumab may be administered alone or in combination with other systemic or radiation therapy.
  Duration of drug administration: Maximum of 12 months.

Eligibility: Inclusion Criteria:
  -  Female or male patient diagnosed with stage I-IV breast cancer
  -  HER2 positive breast cancer, defined by immunohistochemical staining for HER2 protein of 3+ intensity and/or amplification of the HER2 gene on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) ≥ 2.0 on breast specimen or biopsy of a metastatic site
  -  LVEF < 50% and ≥ 40% documented in echocardiogram done within the last 30 days
  -  HER2 therapy naïve or currently receiving non-lapatinib HER2 targeted therapy
  -  Patient receiving or planning to receive trastuzumab, trastuzumab with pertuzumab or ado-trastuzumab emtansine, for at least 3 months, alone or in combination with other systemic treatment or radiation
  -  Age ≥ 18 years
  -  Patient is willing and able to comply with protocol required assessments and procedures
  Exclusion Criteria:
  -  Previous hospitalization due to documented heart failure in the last 12 months
  -  Current signs or symptoms of heart failure or ischemia
  -  History of arrhythmia requiring pharmacological or electrical treatment
  -  Concomitant use of anthracyclines or use of anthracyclines in the last 50 days
  -  Pregnant or lactating patients. Patients of childbearing potential must implement contraceptive measures during study treatment and for 7 months after last dose of treatment drug and must have negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to registration.
  -  History of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders including psychotic disorders or dementia that would prohibit the understanding and giving of informed consent.

Relevance to patient case: not relevant