Abstract PD18-11: Dose-Expansion Study of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan as Monotherapy or Combined With Pertuzumab in Patients With Metastatic Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive (HER2+) Breast Cancer in DESTINY-Breast07 (DB-07)
Authors: Hamilton Erika , Jhaveri Komal , Loi Sherene , Anders Carey , Schmid Peter , Penkov Konstantin , Artamonova Elena , Zhukova Lyudmila , Stroyakovsky Daniil L. , Doval Dinesh Chandra , Villanueva Rafael , Michelini Flavia , Chandarlapaty Sarat , Wilson Matt , Boston Sarice R. , Konpa Adam , Mondal Shoubhik , Andre Fabrice 
Published: March 2023

Background: In trials of HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (mBC), trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) monotherapy showed durable efficacy (DESTINY-Breast01) and significantly prolonged progression-free survival vs trastuzumab emtansine (DESTINY-Breast03). T-DXd is approved in the US for patients with HER2+ unresectable/mBC who received ≥1 prior anti-HER2–based treatment (tx) in the metastatic or neo-/adjuvant setting and recommended for approval in the EU as 2nd-line tx. Preclinical data suggest that T-DXd used in combination with other anticancer tx may lead to improved efficacy. The purpose of DB-07 is to assess the safety and efficacy of T-DXd alone or with other anticancer tx for patients with HER2+ mBC. Here we report preliminary data from the DB-07 dose-expansion phase for T-DXd monotherapy and T-DXd + pertuzumab (P) as 1st-line (1L) tx in mBC.

Methods: DB-07 (NCT04538742) is an ongoing, phase 1b/2, 2-part (part 1: dose finding; part 2: dose expansion), modular, open-label trial of T-DXd alone or with other anticancer tx in patients with HER2+ mBC. In part 2, patients in module (mod) 0 received T-DXd 5.4 mg/kg every 3 weeks (Q3W) and in mod 2, T-DXd 5.4 mg/kg + P 420 mg Q3W (loading dose: 840 mg), the recommended phase 2 dose. Patients in these mods must be mBC tx naive. For part 2, the primary objective is to assess safety and tolerability. A secondary objective is to assess the objective response rate (ORR) per local investigators by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors v1.1. We report results for patients randomized before Oct 13, 2021 to mods 0 and 2 of part 2 (data cutoff [DCO]: Mar 4, 2022); recruitment is ongoing. Based on the distinct mechanism of action of T-DXd and P, we conducted preclinical studies with the drugs in HER2-overexpressing cell lines to elucidate their potential synergies. To assess the effects on T-DXd internalization, live cell imaging was performed using pH-dependent fluorescently labeled T-DXd. To assess the effects on HER2 signaling, total and p-HER2 levels and downstream substrates were evaluated by immunoblot.

Results: 23 patients were enrolled in the T-DXd monotherapy mod; 20 (87.0%) were receiving tx and 3 (13.0%) discontinued tx (withdrawal by patient, n=2; adverse event [AE], n=1) by DCO. 22 patients were enrolled in the T-DXd + P mod; 20 (90.9%) were receiving tx and 2 (9.1%) discontinued tx (AE, n=1; disease progression, n=1) by DCO. All patients experienced AEs (Table); 1 patient in each mod died. The unconfirmed ORR (80% CI) with T-DXd monotherapy and T-DXd + P was 82.6% (68.2%-92.2%) and 77.3% (61.9%-88.5%), respectively; updated data will be presented. Preclinical studies showed that T-DXd was more rapidly and effectively internalized in combination with P than when administered alone. Immunoblotting of cell lysates showed a greater reduction in total HER2 and HER2 signaling in response to combination tx than with T-DXd or P alone.

Discussion: In summary, 1L T-DXd monotherapy and T-DXd + P safety profiles and antitumor activity were consistent with those previously reported for T-DXd. Mature data in these mods are awaited, and other T-DXd combinations are being investigated in additional mods. Preclinical studies showed the potential for P to induce greater internalization of T-DXd and inhibition of HER2-driven signaling. These results support investigation of T-DXd in larger ongoing trials (eg, NCT04784715).

Table 1: Summary of treatment duration and safety data

Citation Format: Erika Hamilton, Komal Jhaveri, Sherene Loi, Carey Anders, Peter Schmid, Konstantin Penkov, Elena Artamonova, Lyudmila Zhukova, Daniil L. Stroyakovsky, Dinesh Chandra Doval, Rafael Villanueva, Flavia Michelini, Sarat Chandarlapaty, Matt Wilson, Sarice R. Boston, Adam Konpa, Shoubhik Mondal, Fabrice Andre. Dose-Expansion Study of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan as Monotherapy or Combined With Pertuzumab in Patients With Metastatic Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive (HER2+) Breast Cancer in DESTINY-Breast07 (DB-07) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr PD18-11.