Capecitabine (Xeloda) and Lapatinib (Tykerb) as First-line Therapy in HER2/Neu-positive Breast Cancer

Subjects with advanced or metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) breast cancer that is HER2/neu-positive will take part in this study. This type of breast cancer has a high amount of a protein called HER2. HER2 is part of a family of receptors found on both cancer and normal cells. This family of receptors is important for cell growth and is found in many tumor types. The purpose of this research study is to compare an approved treatment for breast cancer capecitabine, also called Xeloda®, to the combination of capecitabine plus an experimental drug, lapatinib also known as Tykerb®, for treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer that is HER2/neu-positive.Capecitabine is an approved type of chemotherapy used to treat certain cancers including breast cancer. Capecitabine fights cancer by interfering with the ability of cells to divide and tumor growth. Lapatinib (Tykerb®) is considered "investigational", which means the drug has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale as a prescription or over-the-counter medication. Lapatinib may slow or stop cancer cells from growing by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. However, this theory has not been proven. The addition of the study drug (lapatinib) to capecitabine may help stop cancer cells as well as or better than capecitabine alone. Other studies have demonstrated activity and tolerability of lapatinib either alone or in combination with capecitabine in the treatment of breast cancer.Subjects will receive capecitabine and lapatinib. A treatment period will be 21 days long. This period is known as a "cycle". All medications will be given by mouth. Subjects will take capecitabine for 2 weeks straight (Day 1-14) followed by a 1 week without capecitabine (Day 15-21). Doses of lapatinib will be taken daily continuously for 21 days (Day 1-Day 21) which means that subjects will still take lapatinib on the week that they do not take capecitabine (Day 15-21). Subjects will continue to receive these medications unless they experience severe, serious and/or excessive side effects, the cancer becomes worse, the subjects wishes to no longer participate or the study doctor feels it is not in the best interest to continue treatment.Tests and procedures such as physical exam, blood tests, CT or MRI, ECG, ECHO and/or MUGA tests will be conducted at one or more of the following time points: before the study starts, before each cycle, every 6 and 12 weeks, and after the last dose of capecitabine/lapatinib treatment.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer
* Stage IIIB, IIIC with T4 lesion or Stage IV disease
* Breast cancer must be determined to be HER2-positive. Assays using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) require gene amplification and assays using immunohistochemistry require a strongly positive (3+) staining intensity score in primary or metastatic tumor tissue
* Measurable disease according to RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors)
* Age ³ 18 years of age
* ECOG performance status 0, 1 or 2 (Appendix B)
* Life expectancy of 3 months or longer
* Able to swallow oral medication
* Adequate end organ function
* Left ventricular ejection fraction
* Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation
* Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior treatment with chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic breast cancer
* Prior anti-ErbB1 and/or ErbB2 inhibitor therapy for breast cancer; neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with trastuzumab will be allowed provided the last dose was \> 6 months prior to enrollment in study
* Symptomatic or untreated brain metastases or carcinomatous meningitis
* Uncontrolled illnesses including symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia requiring therapy, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, or active infection
* History of other primary malignancies in the last 5 years prior to on-study date except carcinoma in situ of the cervix and nonmelanoma skin cancer
* History of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to capecitabine and/or lapatinib
* Concurrent treatment with other investigational or commercial anti-cancer agent(s)
* Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency
* Less than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* Less than 2 weeks since prior hormonal therapy
* Known HIV-positive patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy are excluded from the study because of possible pharmacokinetic interactions with lapatinib
* Pregnant or lactating women at anytime during the study
* Patients with GI tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication, malabsorption syndrome, a requirement for IV alimentation, prior surgical procedures affecting absorption, uncontrolled inflammatory GI disease (e.g., Crohn's, ulcerative colitis)
* Certain medications that act through the CYP450 system are specifically prohibited in patients receiving lapatinib because in vitro data indicate that the agents has the potential to interact with cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP3A4. Certain other agents should be used with caution. Medications that are specifically prohibited can be found in Appendix C.