Abstract P2-14-01: Phase II neoadjuvant trial of Interferon-gamma plus weekly paclitaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab in patients with HER-2 positive breast cancer
Authors: Han Hyo S , Costa Ricardo , Armaghani Avan , Soyano Aixa , Loftus Loretta , Soliman Hatem , Fridley Brooke , Whiting Junmin , Cerezo Aiana , Rosa Marilin , Extermann Martine , Khong Hung , Czerniecki Brian 
Published: March 2022

Background: IFN-γ, a cytokine that plays diverse roles in innate and adaptive immunity, has been shown to be essential in anti-tumor immune response. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown the synergistic effect of IFN-γ in combination with HER2-targeting monoclonal antibodies with or without taxane chemotherapy. We previously conducted a phase I trial of IFN-γ in combination with paclitaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab (IPTP) in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer (HER2+ BC) based on which we initiated a phase II neoadjuvant study with this combination. Methods: Early stage HER2+ BC patients (pts) were eligible. Treatment included 12 weeks of weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 IV, trastuzumab IV every 3 weeks x 4 (8 mg/kg loading dose, then 6 mg/kg) and pertuzumab IV every 3 weeks x 4 (840 mg loading dose, then 420 mg) in combination with IFN-γ 50 mcg/m2 subcutaneous injection three times weekly starting on day 1. The primary objective was to evaluate the pathologic complete response rate (pCR) in breast and nodes. This study had a planned interim analysis after 23 patients were evaluable for pCR based on a Simon’s two stage design with 90% power and a type I error rate of 0.1. The final proportion of hormone receptor (HR) status among accrued patients will be used for comparison to historical control because pCR is expected to be lower for HR+HER2+BC compared to HR-HER2+ BC subtype (25% vs 50% respectively). Here we are reporting the final results. Results: Thirty-nine pts were enrolled between 1/2018 and 11/2020. Most patients had clinical stage II/III (90%) and 46% were clinically and pathologically node positive. Thirty four out of 39 (87%) had HR+ BC. The pCR for all patients was 44% (17/39). The pCR for HR+ HER2+ and HR-HER2+ BC subgroup was 47% (16/34) and 20% (1/5) respectively. Further evaluation using RCB (residual cancer burden) showed 17 pts RCB-0, 6 RCB-I,14 RCB-II, and 2 RCB-III. Two SAE included pneumonitis/heart failure and hematochezia. The most frequently observed grade 1 and 2 AEs were diarrhea (74%), fatigue (74%), rash (56%) and nausea (56%). Grade 3 AE (5% or higher) included diarrhea (18%), syncope (5%) and rash (5%). No grade 4 AE was noted. Conclusion: The addition of IFN-γ to neoadjuvant chemotherapy using paclitaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab was well tolerated with manageable toxicities. This study evaluated de-escalated treatments only 12 weeks duration and the anthracycline-free regimen which was highly effective with pCR of 44%. The pCR for HR+ HER2 + BC subtype was 47% (16/34) which compares favorably to the expected pCR of 25% with neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone in HR+HER2+ patients. Updated results will be presented at the meeting including correlative studies.

Citation Format: Hyo S Han, Ricardo Costa, Avan Armaghani, Aixa Soyano, Loretta Loftus, Hatem Soliman, Brooke Fridley, Junmin Whiting, Aiana Cerezo, Marilin Rosa, Martine Extermann, Hung Khong, Brian Czerniecki. Phase II neoadjuvant trial of Interferon-gamma plus weekly paclitaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab in patients with HER-2 positive breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-14-01.