Abstract P1-09-05: The role of immune and apoptosis markers for prediction of pCR in the WSG-ADAPT HER2+/HR+ phase II trial evaluating 12-weeks of neoadjuvant TDM1 ± endocrine therapy (ET) versus T + ET in HER2-positive hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer (EBC)
Authors: Harbeck N , Nitz UA , Matthias C , Kates R , Braun M , Kümmel S , Schumacher C , Potenberg J , Kraemer S , Kleine-Tebbe A , Augustin D , Aktas B , Forstbauer H , Tio J , Liedtke C , Grischke E-M , de Haas SL , Deurloo R , Schumacher J , Wuerstlein R , Kreipe HH , Gluz O 
Published: March 2017

Background: Immune and apoptosis biomarkers are potential prognostic/predictive markers in HER2+ EBC. High PD-L1 expression was shown to be predictive for lower pCR after chemotherapy+trastuzumab+/-pertuzumab, particularly in HER2+, ER- disease. Yet, HER2+ EBC co-expressing hormone receptors is a distinct entity.

The ADAPT HER2+/HR+ phase II trial (n=376) compared 12 weeks of neoadjuvant T-DM1 + ET vs. trastuzumab (T)+ET and demonstrated pCR rates of about 41% in both (well tolerated) T-DM1 arms.

Methods: In order to identify potential early predictors for pCR (i.e. no invasive tumor in breast and lymph nodes), immune markers (PDL1 on infiltrating immune cells (IIC) and on tumor cells (TC); CD8 in invasive margin and in tumor center) and apoptosis markers (bcl-2; mcl-2) were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC; H-scores) in core biopsy sections obtained at primary diagnosis and at cycle 2. For multivariate logistic regression, each biomarker (separately), clinical factors (Ki-67, cT, cN) and therapy were entered. All analyses were exploratory.

Results:Biomarkers were available in up to 326 patients (pts) at baseline and up to 170 pts at 3 weeks (due to low tumor content in 2nd core biopsy).

Baseline IIC-PDL1 was associated with pCR in the T-DM1 arm (OR 2.89; 95%CI: 1.11-7.51); IIC-PDL1 at cycle 2 was not associated with pCR.

PD-L1 expression in TC was rare (2%); cycle-2 TC-PD-L1 was associated with pCR in all pts and in the pooled TDM-1 arms.

High baseline CD8 in tumor center was associated with pCR in the whole cohort (OR 2.4; CI: 1.04 – 5.5) and in the T+ET arm (OR=10.1; CI: 1.12 - 91.6) and at cycle 2 in all pts (OR=9.52; CI: 2.17 – 41), in pooled TDM-1 arms (OR=15.7; CI: 2.49 – 99), and in TDM-1+ET (OR=25.05; CI: 2.12 – 295). Increases in this marker also predicted pCR in all pts, pooled TDM-1, and in TDM-1+ET. Association of cycle-2 CD8 in tumor center with pCR persisted in multivariate models.

Lower baseline CD8 in invasive margin was associated with pCR in the T-DM1 arm (OR=0.09; CI: 0.01-0.69), but at cycle 2 in all pts (OR=18.1; CI: 1.60 – 204) and in pooled TDM-1 arms (OR=23.5; CI: 1.1 - 500). This positive impact persisted in multivariate models.

Bcl-2 expression at baseline was associated with non-pCR in all pts (OR=0.28, CI: 0.12 - 0.66), in the pooled T-DM1 arms (OR=0.216, CI: 0.08 - 0.61), and particularly in the T-DM1+ET arm (OR=0.14; CI: 0.03 - 0.71). This association persisted in multivariate analysis. At cycle 2, lower bcl-2 had OR=0.16 (CI: 0.03 - 0.96) in the pooled T-DM1 arms. No association with efficacy was seen for mcl-1.

Conclusions: The WSG-ADAPT HER2+/HR+ phase II trial is the first international trial to focus on HER2+/HR+ EBC alone and the first to show substantial pCR rates of &gt; 40% after only 12 weeks of T-DM1 -- without standard chemotherapy.

Expression of bcl-2 may affect resistance to T-DM1. High immune activity at baseline and/or cycle 2 seems to be associated with pCR. The association of CD8 expression and its changes with therapy efficacy is complex and could depend on ET.

Further biomarker analyses are ongoing and will be presented at the meeting.

Citation Format: Harbeck N, Nitz UA, Matthias C, Kates R, Braun M, Kümmel S, Schumacher C, Potenberg J, Kraemer S, Kleine-Tebbe A, Augustin D, Aktas B, Forstbauer H, Tio J, Liedtke C, Grischke E-M, de Haas SL, Deurloo R, Schumacher J, Wuerstlein R, Kreipe HH, Gluz O. The role of immune and apoptosis markers for prediction of pCR in the WSG-ADAPT HER2+/HR+ phase II trial evaluating 12-weeks of neoadjuvant TDM1 ± endocrine therapy (ET) versus T + ET in HER2-positive hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer (EBC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-09-05.