Abstract PD5-05: Neratinib for ERBB2 mutant, HER2 non-amplified, metastatic breast cancer: Preliminary analysis from a multicenter, open-label, multi-histology phase II basket trial
Authors: Hyman DM , Piha-Paul SA , Rodón J , Saura C , Puzanov I , Shapiro GI , Loi S , Joensuu H , Hanrahan AJ , Modi S , Lalani AS , Xu F , Garza SJ , Cutler RE , Bryce R , Meric-Bernstam F , Baselga J , Solit DB 
Published: May 2016

Background: Somatic ERBB2 (HER2) mutations occur in approximately 2% of patients with breast cancer and are found in a predominantly mutually exclusive manner with ERBB2 amplification. These mutations result in increased signaling and oncogenic transformation. Neratinib, a pan-ERBB irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor, potently inhibits growth of ERBB2 mutant tumor cell lines and xenografts. An ongoing signal-seeking phase II 'basket' study is evaluating neratinib in patients with multiple histologies harboring ERBB2 mutations (NCT01953926). Novel mutations identified in enrolled patients were characterized for biologic activity in a variety of in vitro model systems. A preliminary analysis of the HER2 non-amplified metastatic breast cancer cohort is presented.

Methods: Patients with ERBB2 mutant metastatic breast cancer documented by local testing methods received single-agent oral neratinib 240 mg once daily until progression or intolerable toxicity. High-dose loperamide prophylaxis was mandatory during cycle 1. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate at 8 weeks, defined using anatomic (RECIST 1.1) and/or metabolic (PET Response Criteria) assessments. Secondary endpoints were best overall response rate, clinical benefit rate, progression-free survival, duration of response, and safety.

Results: 17 patients with metastatic breast cancer were enrolled and received neratinib (13 patients are evaluable for efficacy to date). Patients had a median of 3 prior anticancer regimens. Other baseline characteristics were: median age 59 years; bone involvement 71%; visceral disease 82%. Tumor characteristics were: ductal/lobular 76%/24%; ERBB2 mutation single nucleotide variants/indels 82%/18%; HER2 amplified/non-amplified 0%/100%; hormone receptor positive/negative 82%/18%. Five patients (39%) had an objective response at 8 weeks (95% CI 14–68%). In the patients who responded, ERBB2 mutations were: 1 complete response (L755S); 4 partial responses (L755S, V777L, V777L, and L869R). The most common all-grade adverse events (in ≥15% of patients) across all cohorts (n=93) were: diarrhea (62%), fatigue (28%), nausea (36%), vomiting (30%), anemia (15%), and constipation (29%). The most common grade 3/4 adverse event was diarrhea (14%, all grade 3). Updated efficacy results, centralized genomic analyses on archival tumor samples, and in vitro characterization of novel ERBB2 mutants will be presented.

Conclusions: Single-agent neratinib shows encouraging signs of clinical activity in patients with heavily pretreated, ERBB2 mutant, HER2 non-amplified metastatic breast cancer. The breast cancer cohort demonstrated sufficient activity to meet the study's pre-specified efficacy requirements according to a Simon's two-stage design, and suggests that a confirmatory trial of neratinib for targeting ERBB2 driver mutations in metastatic breast cancer is warranted. Safety was acceptable and diarrhea was manageable with loperamide prophylaxis.

Citation Format: Hyman DM, Piha-Paul SA, Rodón J, Saura C, Puzanov I, Shapiro GI, Loi S, Joensuu H, Hanrahan AJ, Modi S, Lalani AS, Xu F, Garza SJ, Cutler RE, Bryce R, Meric-Bernstam F, Baselga J, Solit DB. Neratinib for ERBB2 mutant, HER2 non-amplified, metastatic breast cancer: Preliminary analysis from a multicenter, open-label, multi-histology phase II basket trial. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD5-05.