Abstract PO1-20-05: SURVIVE study – a multicenter, randomized, controlled phase 3 superiority trial, evaluating liquid biopsy guided intensified follow-up surveillance in women with intermediate-to high-risk early breast cancer
Authors: Mergel Franziska , Huesmann Sophia , Friedl Thomas , Pfister Kerstin , Braun Tatjana , Fink Angelina , Mehmeti Forca , Fehm Tanja , Müller Volkmar , Pantel Klaus , Hartkopf Andreas , Wiesmüller Elisabeth , Rack Brigitte , Janni Wolfgang 
Published: May 2024

Background: Current guidelines limit routine breast cancer follow-up to clinical examinations and breast imaging. This is based on the results of two large cohort studies conducted in the 1980s that showed no improvement in overall survival (OS) by an intensified screening for distant metastases. Thus, imaging for distant metastases should currently only be performed in patients with specific symptoms. To detect distant relapse in a pre-symptomatic stage, we suggest the evaluation of a liquid biopsy-guided intensified surveillance, analyzing tumor markers (CA 27.29, CA 125 and CEA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA).

Trial design: Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the SURVIVE study is the first large, randomized breast cancer surveillance trial to investigate the potential survival benefit of a liquid biopsy guided follow-up care in intermediate- to high-risk early breast cancer patients. The trial is a German multicenter, controlled phase 3 superiority study, in which 3500 patients are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to standard vs. liquid biopsy guided intensified follow-up care. At the time of writing 150 patients have been enrolled since December 2022. The total study duration is 144 months. Stratification factors are study site as well as HR-, HER2- and nodal status at surgery. Both study arms receive standard follow-up according to national guidelines. Additional blood samples (year 1-3 every 3 months, year 4-5 every 6 months) and standardized Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaires (EORTC-QLQ-C30/PA-F12, every 6 months) will be collected. While the standard surveillance arm samples will only be stored in a biobank, samples collected in the intensive surveillance arm will be tested for standard tumor markers, CTCs and ctDNA. Pre-specified abnormal findings of any of the liquid biopsy markers indicative of minimal residual disease trigger complete staging. In the event of confirmed disease recurrence, guideline-based treatment follows, otherwise, liquid biopsy testing continues. If applicable, study participants may enter interventional trials.

Eligibility criteria: Eligible patients are adult females or males with histologically confirmed primary invasive intermediate to high-risk early breast cancer, defined as an indication for (neo-)adjuvant chemotherapy, and/or large tumor size ( &gt; 50 mm), and/or positive lymph nodes (≥ pN1mi), and/or high grade (≥ G3). Primary anti-tumor therapy (surgery, adjuvant chemo- or radiotherapy) must have been completed ≤ 24 months (≤ 60 months for luminal carcinoma) previously. Patient enrollment during adjuvant endocrine- or antibody-therapy, CDK4/6-/PARP- or PI3K-inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates is allowed.

Statistical methods: The two primary objectives are to determine whether intensified, liquid biopsy-guided surveillance leads to better OS or an overall lead-time effect, compared to standard surveillance. The primary endpoint OS will be analyzed in the ITT population using Kaplan Meier methods and cox regression models, the overall lead time effect is a purely descriptive composite measure. Secondary objectives include invasive disease-free survival (IDFS), distant disease-free survival (DDFS), distant recurrence free survival (DRFS), breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and quality of life (QoL).

Specific aims: To improve OS and the QoL during breast cancer follow-up, we propose a liquid biopsy guided follow-up method, with high sensitivity and specificity for the earlier detection of distant (oligo-)metastases, to enable earlier initiation of therapy.

Conclusion: The SURVIVE-study is a long-awaited trial in early breast cancer follow-up, based on promising liquid biopsy markers. If successful, the results will lead to a paradigm shift in current follow-up care of intermediate to high-risk early breast cancer survivors.

Clinical trial information: NCT05658172

Citation Format: Franziska Mergel, Sophia Huesmann, Thomas Friedl, Kerstin Pfister, Tatjana Braun, Angelina Fink, Forca Mehmeti, Tanja Fehm, Volkmar Müller, Klaus Pantel, Andreas Hartkopf, Elisabeth Wiesmüller, Brigitte Rack, Wolfgang Janni. SURVIVE study – a multicenter, randomized, controlled phase 3 superiority trial, evaluating liquid biopsy guided intensified follow-up surveillance in women with intermediate-to high-risk early breast cancer [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 PO1-20-05.