Abstract PO2-19-03: Phase 2 study of response-guided neoadjuvant sacituzumab govitecan in patients with localized breast cancer (NeoSTAR)
Authors: Spring Laura , Garrido-Castro Ana , Lynce Filipa , Tung Nadine , Abelman Rachel , Ryan Lianne , Moran Megan , Mittendorf Elizabeth , Ellisen Leif , Tolaney Sara , Bardia Aditya 
Published: May 2024

Background: Optimizing treatments for localized breast cancer is key to preventing metastatic recurrences and reducing mortality. Sacituzumab Govitecan (SG) is a novel antibody-drug conjugate in which the topoisomerase 1 inhibitor SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan) is coupled to a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the antigen Trop-2, which is highly expressed in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). SG is FDA approved for patients with metastatic hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and TNBC. However, efficacy in localized BC is not known. The NeoSTAR clinical trial is evaluating SG in the neoadjuvant (NA) setting for participants with localized breast cancer. Cohort A1 evaluating NA SG monotherapy in localized TNBC is completed, and now cohorts A2 (SG + pembrolizumab (P) for TNBC), B1 (SG monotherapy for HR+ BC), and C (SG + P for HER2- inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)) are enrolling.

Trial design: This is a single-arm phase II study of NA SG or SG + P with multiple cohorts across different breast cancer subtypes. In all cohorts, SG is administered via an IV infusion on days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle at a starting dose of 10 mg/kg for 4 cycles. For cohorts A2 and C, pembrolizumab is given on day 1 of each cycle. For A2 and B1, after 4 cycles, participants who have biopsy-proven residual disease will have the option to receive additional standard NA therapy at the discretion of the treating physician and subsequently proceed to surgery. Those with a complete response on imaging may proceed directly to surgery. If pathological complete response (pCR) is achieved after 4 cycles of SG + P, participants on A2 will remain on study and receive adjuvant weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin for 12 weeks along with continuation of P to complete a total of one year of the PD-1 inhibitor; participants on B1 will receive adjuvant therapy at the discretion of the treating physician, with the option to continue P to complete a total of one year. On cohort C, after 4 cycles of SG + P, dose-dense doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide + P for 4 cycles will be given before considering surgery. A baseline research biopsy is required for all cohorts, as well as tissue collection following treatment with SG (either at surgery or via biopsy prior to additional NA therapy).

Eligibility criteria: Participants ≥ 18 years of age with previously untreated localized breast cancer as determined by the local institution will be enrolled. For A2, participants must either have a primary tumor &gt;2 cm or be node positive. For B1, participants with anatomic clinical stage II-III breast cancer with primary tumor &gt; 1.5 cm and high genomic risk are eligible. For the IBC cohort (C), participants with T4d and any N are eligible. An ECOG performance score of 0 or 1, and adequate bone marrow, hepatic, and renal function is required.

Study Objectives: The primary objective is to assess the pCR rate in breast and lymph nodes (ypT0/isN0) with SG + P (A2), SG (B1), or SG + P followed by AC + P (C). Secondary objectives include assessment of overall response rate, evaluation of the safety and tolerability of SG or SG + P (CTCAE v5.0), event-free survival (EFS), and quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30). Exploratory objectives include assessment of potential predictive biomarkers, including Trop-2 expression, DNA damage response markers and immunological markers, as well as changes in cell free DNA with SG.

Statistical methods: The primary analysis is based on the estimated pCR rate with SG or SG + P and will be provided as a proportion (with two-sided 95% confidence interval). Each cohort will follow a Simon two-stage design. EFS will be analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods and descriptive statistics.

Target Accrual: 50 participants (A2), 56 participants (B1), 39 participants (C)

Contact: Dr. Laura Spring (LSpring@mgh.harvard.edu)

Clinicaltrials.gov #: NCT04230109

Citation Format: Laura Spring, Ana Garrido-Castro, Filipa Lynce, Nadine Tung, Rachel Abelman, Lianne Ryan, Megan Moran, Elizabeth Mittendorf, Leif Ellisen, Sara Tolaney, Aditya Bardia. Phase 2 study of response-guided neoadjuvant sacituzumab govitecan in patients with localized breast cancer (NeoSTAR) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-19-03.