Lasofoxifene (LAS) plus abemaciclib (Abema) for treating ESR1-mutated ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC) after progression on prior therapies: ELAINE 2 study update.
Authors: Damodaran Senthil , Moore Halle C. F. , Anderson Ian Churchill , Cherian Mathew Amprayil , O'Sullivan Ciara Catherine , Plourde Paul V , Portman David Jay , Goetz Matthew P. 
Published: June 2023

1057 Background: Endocrine therapy (ET), particularly aromatase inhibitors (AIs), for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer can lead to acquired ESR1 mutations ( mESR1) driving endocrine resistance and tumor progression. Treatments for mBC with mESR1 are limited, especially after progression on ET/cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) combinations. In ELAINE 2, LAS, a next-generation ET (breast ER antagonist) plus Abema had a median progression-free survival (PFS) of ~13 mos, objective response rate (ORR) of 33%, and 24-wk clinical benefit rate (CBR) of 62% with a favorable safety profile in patients with resistant mESR1 mBC (Damodaran S, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40:16 suppl 1022). Here, we report ELAINE 2 data with longer patient follow up (Jan 31, 2023). Methods: In this open-label, phase 2, single-arm study, 29 women with mESR1, ER+/HER2- mBC that progressed on prior ET took oral LAS 5 mg/day and Abema 150 mg BID until disease progression/toxicity. The primary endpoint was safety/tolerability; secondary included PFS, CBR, and ORR. Data were summarized descriptively with no formal hypothesis testing. Results: Patients (median age 60 yrs) had received a median of 2 prior therapy lines for mBC; all but one had prior CDK4/6i exposure and 14 (48%) had prior chemotherapy for mBC. LAS/Abema was well tolerated with primarily grade 1/2 treatment-emergent adverse events (most commonly diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting). One treatment withdrawal occurred due to grade 2 diarrhea. No deaths occurred. LAS dose was not reduced; Abema dose was reduced to 100 mg BID in 6 (21%) patients. Median PFS was 56.0 wks (~13 mos) and CBR 65.5% (95% CI, 47.3‒80.1). Median overall survival was not estimable. In 18 patients with measurable lesions, ORR was 55.6% (95% CI, 33.7‒75.4), with median time to response of 5.7 mos and median duration of response of 6.4 mos. Seventy-six percent, 56%, and 39% of patients were progression free at 6, 12, and 18 mos, respectively. Three (10%) patients had scan-identified venous thromboembolic events, with one symptomatic pulmonary embolism and one symptomatic deep vein thrombosis. In 26 patients with evaluable baseline and wk 4 ctDNA, ESR1 mutant allele fraction decreased from baseline to wk 4 in 81% of patients and was not detected in 54%. Conclusions: With longer ELAINE 2 follow up, LAS/Abema continues to be well tolerated with clinically meaningful efficacy in women with mESR1, ER+/HER2- mBC that had progressed on ET and CDK4/6is. Decreases in mESR1 ctDNA suggest effective target engagement of LAS. The PFS (median ~13 mos) and ORR (56%) with LAS/Abema are promising and a confirmatory phase 3 study (ELAINE 3) will begin in 2023. If ELAINE 2 results are confirmed, the combination of LAS and Abema would address a critical unmet need, providing a practice changing option for treating mESR1 breast cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT04432454 .