Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Docetaxel With or Without SELUMETINIB in Patients With Triple Negative Breast Cancer

The purpose of this study is to increase survival of patients with early and locally advanced triple-negative breast cancer adding selumatinib to standard preoperative chemotherapy regimen.

Molecular analysis of residual tumor after administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy revealed several mechanisms of resistance to treatment. High frequency of RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signal pathway activation was found in cells of triple negative breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which correlated with high proliferation index and low pathological complete response rate. Thus, inhibition of MEK molecule - an intermediary transducer of this pathway may decrease activity of this pathway and restore tumor sensitivity to cytostatic agents.

Hence, the use of SELUMETINIB, an oral selective inhibitor of MEK1/MEK2 kinases, in combination with Docetaxel should increase pathological complete response rate and in turn increase survival of patients with early and locally advanced triple-negative breast cancer.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* • Written informed consent;

  * Women with early and locally advanced breast cancer ( Stage IIB-IIIB: T2N1-2, T3-4/N0-2 or any T/N2)
  * Triple negative breast cancer (absence of estrogen receptor (0-2 points), progesterone receptor (0-2 points), and HER2/neu receptor (IHC 0-1+ or IHC 2+ in the absence of her2/neu gene amplification as evidenced by FISH);
  * Age: over 18 years;
  * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score: 0-1 points;
  * Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) based on Echocardiogram (ECHO) or Multigated radionuclide angiography (MUGA scan): \>55%
  * Laboratory values before the study start must meet the following criteria:

Absolute neutrophil count \> 1500/microlitre Platelet count \> 100000/microlitre Hemoglobin level \> 9.0 g/dl Albumin \> 2,5 g/dl Normal plasma creatinine level or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \>60 ml/minute Total bilirubin level \< 1.25 upper limit of normal (ULN) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 3 x ULN;

* Patient is able to abide by the protocol requirements (in the opinion of the Investigator)
* Patient's and her sexual partner's willing to use reliable methods of contraception (condoms with spermicidal foams/gels, intrauterine device) during the study and for at least 4 weeks after discontinuation of study treatment.
* Negative serum pregnancy test for women with childbearing potential or evidence of a post-menopausal status (total cessation of menses for more than 1 year. The following age-specific requirements must also apply:

  * Women \< 60 years old: they would be considered post-menopausal if they have been amenorrheic for the past 12 months or more. The levels of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and estradiol must also be in the post-menopausal range (as per the institution).
  * Women ≥ 60 years;
  * Bilateral oophorectomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

* • Prior treatment (chemo-, hormone, radiation or immunotherapy) of breast cancer

  * Major surgery within 28 days prior to enrollment;
  * Known hypersensitivity to Docetaxel, SELUMETINIB or to the components of the investigational product;
  * Cardiac conditions as follows:

    a. Uncontrolled hypertension (BP ≥ 150/95 mmHg despite medical therapy) b. Acute coronary syndrome within 6 months prior to starting treatment c. Uncontrolled Angina - Canadian Cardiovascular Society grade II-IV despite medical therapy (Appendix 3) d. Symptomatic heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II-IV, prior or current cardiomyopathy (Appendix 4) e. Prior or current cardiomyopathy including but not limited to the following: i. Known hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ii. Known arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy iii. Previous moderate or severe impairment of left ventricular systolic function (Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \<45% on echocardiography or equivalent on MuGA) even if full recovery has occurred.

    f. Severe valvular heart disease g. Baseline Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) below the lower limit of normal (LLN) or \<55% measured by echocardiography or institution's LLN for MUGA h. Atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate \>100 bpm on ECG at rest i. QTcF \>450ms or other factors that increase the risk of QT prolongation
  * Pregnancy or lactation;
  * Conditions (dementia, psychiatric or neurological disorders, drug addiction, alcoholism etc.) that limit patient's ability to undergo study procedures;
  * Simultaneous participation in other clinical studies;
  * Presence of acute or active chronic infections or other conditions (e.g. unstable or uncompensated respiratory, cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease, active bleeding diatheses or renal transplant), that in investigator's opinion may interfere with the treatment described in the study protocol;
  * Have refractory nausea and vomiting, chronic gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease), or significant bowel resection that would adversely affect the absorption / bioavailability of the orally administered study medication
  * History of another neoplasm (with the exception of adequately treated basal cell or cervical cancer in situ and cases when a cancer has been in remission for 5 years of more)
  * Ophthalmological conditions as follows:
* Intra-ocular pressure \>21 mmHg, or uncontrolled glaucoma (irrespective of intra-ocular pressure)
* Current or past history of retinal pigment epithelial detachment / central serous retinopathy
* Current or past history of retinal vein occlusion