Clinical trial NCT01705691: Comparison of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With Weekly Paclitaxel or Eribulin Followed by A/C in Women With Locally Advanced HER2-Negative Breast Cancer
Official title: A Phase II Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Regimens With Weekly Paclitaxel or Eribulin Followed by Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide in Women With Locally Advanced HER2-Negative Breast Cancer
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE2
Conditions: Breast Cancer
HER2-negative Breast Cancer
Lead sponsor: NSABP Foundation Inc
Sponsor class: NETWORK
Collaborators: name: Eisai Inc.
First posted: 2012-10-12
Enrollment: 50
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: NSABP FB-9 is a Phase II, multi-center, randomized study of eribulin or weekly paclitaxel followed by doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) as neoadjuvant therapy for women with HER2-negative, operable and locally advanced breast cancer (stage IIb and III). Patients in the control arm will receive neoadjuvant weekly paclitaxel (WP) followed by AC. The primary aim of the study is to determine the pathologic complete response (ypCR) in breast and axillary lymph nodes following completion of neoadjuvant therapy. The secondary aims include determination of the ypCR in axillary nodes, clinical complete response (ycCR) rate after eribulin or paclitaxel and after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, two-year recurrence-free interval, two-year overall survival, and toxicity of the neoadjuvant regimens.

Detailed description: Patients will be randomized to one of two neoadjuvant therapy regimens. Patients in Arm 1 will receive WP 80 mg/m2 for 12 doses followed by standard AC every 21 days for 4 cycles. Patients in Arm 2 will receive 4 cycles of eribulin 1.4 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle followed by standard AC every 21 days for 4 cycles. As soon as possible following recovery from chemotherapy, the patient will have either lumpectomy or mastectomy and axillary staging.

In both arms, clinical response will be assessed by physical exam on day 1 of each study therapy cycle. MRI of the breast is required within 4 weeks prior to randomization and following completion of eribulin or WP (before starting AC). Following recovery from surgery, patients will receive radiation therapy and hormonal therapy as clinically indicated. Other postoperative therapies are prohibited.

Patients will be randomized to the control arm (Arm 1) and to the investigational arm (Arm 2) in a 1:2 ratio. The sample size will be up to 50 patients with about 30 patients in Arm 2 and about half that number in Arm 1. Accrual is expected to occur over 15 months.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients should have a life expectancy of at least 10 years, excluding their diagnosis of breast cancer. (Comorbid conditions should be taken into consideration, but not the diagnosis of breast cancer.)
* Patients of reproductive potential must agree to use an effective non-hormonal method of contraception during therapy and for at least 6 months after the last dose of study therapy.
* The patient must have consented to participate and must have signed and dated an appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines.
* Patients must be female.
* Patients must be \> 18 years old.
* The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status must be 0 or 1.
* The diagnosis of invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast must have been made by core needle biopsy or by limited incisional biopsy.
* Patients must have ER analysis performed on the primary tumor prior to randomization. If ER analysis is negative, then Progesterone Receptor (PgR) analysis must also be performed. (Patients are eligible with either hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-negative tumors.)
* Clinical staging, based on the assessment by physical exam, must be American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage IIB, IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC: cT2 and cN1, cT3 and cN0 or cN1, Any cT and cN2 or cN3, cT4
* The patient must have a mass in the breast or axilla measuring greater than or equal to 2.0 cm by physical exam, unless the patient has inflammatory breast cancer, in which case measurable disease by physical exam is not required.
* At the time of randomization, blood counts performed within 4 weeks prior to randomization must meet the following criteria: Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) must be greater than or equal to 1200/mm3; Platelet count must be greater than or equal to 100,000/mm3; Hemoglobin must be greater than or equal to 10 g/dL.
* The following criteria for evidence of adequate hepatic function performed within 4 weeks prior to randomization must be met: total bilirubin must be less than or equal to Upper Limit of Normal (ULN) for the lab unless the patient has a bilirubin elevation \> ULN to 1.5 x ULN due to Gilbert's disease or similar syndrome involving slow conjugation of bilirubin; and alkaline phosphatase must be less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN for the lab; and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) must be less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN for the lab.
* Patients with alkaline phosphatase \> ULN but less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN are eligible for inclusion in the study if liver imaging (CT, MRI, PET, or PET-CT scan) performed within 4 weeks prior to randomization does not demonstrate metastatic disease and the requirements in the criteria below for unexplained skeletal pain are met.
* Patients with either unexplained skeletal pain or alkaline phosphatase that is \> ULN but less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN are eligible for inclusion in the study if a bone scan, PET-CT scan, or PET scan performed within 4 weeks prior to randomization does not demonstrate metastatic disease. Patients with suspicious findings on bone scan or PET scan are eligible if suspicious findings are determined to be benign by x-ray, MRI, or biopsy.
* Serum creatinine performed within 4 weeks prior to randomization must be less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN for the lab.
* Serum potassium and serum magnesium performed within 4 weeks prior to randomization must be Within Normal Limits (WNL).
* The Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) assessment by 2-D echocardiogram or Multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan performed within 90 days prior to randomization must be greater than or equal to 50% regardless of the facility's Lower Limit of Normal (LLN).
* ECG performed within 4 weeks before study entry must demonstrate a QTc interval that is less than or equal to 0.47 seconds.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Tumor that has been determined to be HER2-positive by immunohistochemistry (3+) or by in situ hybridization (positive for gene amplification), or has been determined to be HER2-equivocal and the investigator plans to administer trastuzumab or other targeted therapy.
* Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) alone to diagnose the primary breast cancer.
* Excisional biopsy or lumpectomy performed prior to randomization.
* Surgical axillary staging procedure prior to randomization. (Procedures that are permitted prior to study entry include: 1) FNA or core biopsy of an axillary node for any patient, and 2) although not recommended, a pre-neoadjuvant therapy Sentinal Node (SN) biopsy for patients with clinically negative axillary nodes.)
* Definitive clinical or radiologic evidence of metastatic disease. (Note: Chest imaging is mandatory for all patients within 90 days prior to randomization. Other imaging \[if required\] must have been performed within 4 weeks prior to randomization.)
* History of ipsilateral invasive breast cancer regardless of treatment or ipsilateral Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) treated with Radiation Therapy (RT). (Patients with a history of Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS), contralateral DCIS \[regardless of RT\], or contralateral invasive breast cancer are eligible.)
* History of non-breast malignancies (except for in situ cancers treated only by local excision and basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin) within 5 years prior to randomization.
* Known metastatic disease from any malignancy (solid tumor or hematologic).
* Previous therapy with anthracyclines, taxanes, cyclophosphamide, or eribulin for any malignancy.
* Treatment including RT, chemotherapy, and/or targeted therapy, administered for the currently diagnosed breast cancer prior to randomization.
* Continued endocrine therapy such as raloxifene or tamoxifen (or other SERM) or an aromatase inhibitor. (Patients are eligible if these medications are discontinued prior to randomization.)
* Any continued sex hormonal therapy, e.g., birth control pills and ovarian hormone replacement therapy. Patients are eligible if these medications are discontinued prior to randomization.
* Requirement for chronic use of any drugs known to prolong the QT interval, including Na+ and K+ channel blockers. (Patients are eligible if these medications and/or substances can be discontinued prior to the first dose of eribulin and will not need to be resumed until after the last dose of eribulin.)
* Active hepatitis B or hepatitis C with abnormal liver function tests.
* Intrinsic lung disease resulting in dyspnea.
* Active infection; or chronic infection requiring chronic suppressive antibiotics.
* Persistent greater than or equal to grade 2 diarrhea regardless of etiology.
* Sensory or motor neuropathy greater than or equal to grade 2, as defined by the NCI Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) v4.0.
* Conditions that would prohibit intermittent administration of corticosteroids for paclitaxel premedication.
* Chronic daily treatment with corticosteroids with a dose of greater than or equal to 10 mg/day methylprednisolone equivalent (excluding inhaled steroids).
* Uncontrolled hypertension defined as a systolic BP \> 150 mmHg or diastolic BP \> 90 mmHg, with or without anti-hypertensive medications. (Patients with hypertension that is well-controlled on medication are eligible.)
* Cardiac disease (history of and/or active disease) that would preclude the use of any of the drugs included in the treatment regimen. This includes but is not confined to: Active cardiac disease: symptomatic angina pectoris within the past 180 days that required the initiation of or increase in anti-anginal medication or other intervention; ventricular arrhythmias except for benign premature ventricular contractions; supraventricular and nodal arrhythmias requiring a pacemaker or not controlled with medication; conduction abnormality requiring a pacemaker; valvular disease with documented compromise in cardiac function; and symptomatic pericarditis. History of cardiac disease: myocardial infarction documented by elevated cardiac enzymes or persistent regional wall abnormalities on assessment of Left Ventricular (LV) function; history of documented Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) documented cardiomyopathy; and congenital long QT syndrome.
* Other nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude the patient from receiving study treatment or would prevent required follow-up.
* Pregnancy or lactation at the time of randomization.
* Any psychiatric or addictive disorder or other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude her from meeting the study requirements.
* Use of any investigation agent within 4 weeks prior to randomization.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Pathologic Complete Response Rate (ypCR) Following Neoadjuvant Therapy in Breast and Axillary Lymph Nodes
timeFrame: At the time of surgery approximately 24 to 28 weeks.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: ypCR Nodes
timeFrame: At the time of surgery approximately 24 to 28 weeks.
measure: Clinical Overall Response (cOR)(Complete and Partial) Assessed by MRI at the Completion of WP or Eribulin (Before AC)
timeFrame: 12 weeks after initiation of study therapy
measure: Clinical Complete Response (ycCR) Following Neoadjuvant Therapy Assessed by Physical Exam at the Completion of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
timeFrame: At approximately 24 to 28 weeks from initiation of study therapy
measure: Recurrence Free Interval (RFI): The Time to Occurrence of Inoperable Progressive Disease and Local, Regional, and Distant Recurrence.
timeFrame: Assessed through 24 months from randomization
measure: 2-year Overall Survival (OS): Death From Any Cause From Time of Randomization Through 2 Years After Randomization.
timeFrame: Assessed through 24 months from randomization
measure: Adverse Events Experienced by Participants as a Measure of Toxicity.
timeFrame: Assessed through 24 months from randomization
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Denver
country: United States
facility: CCOP, Colorado Cancer Research Program, Inc.
state: Colorado
city: Miami Beach
country: United States
facility: CCOP - Mount Sinai Medical Center
state: Florida
city: Albany
country: United States
facility: Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
state: Georgia
city: Savannah
country: United States
facility: Memorial Health University Medical Center
state: Georgia
city: Detroit
country: United States
facility: Henry Ford Health System
state: Michigan
city: Kalamazoo
country: United States
facility: West Michigan Cancer Center
state: Michigan
city: Southfield
country: United States
facility: Providence Hospital - Southfield
state: Michigan
city: New Brunswick
country: United States
facility: Cancer Institute of New Jersey
state: New Jersey
city: Charlotte
country: United States
facility: Carolinas Medical Center/Levine Cancer Center
state: North Carolina
city: Winston-Salem
country: United States
facility: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
state: North Carolina
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: Albert Einstein Medical Center
state: Pennsylvania
city: Pittsburgh
country: United States
facility: Allegheny General Hospital/Allegheny-Singer Research Institute
state: Pennsylvania
city: Pittsburgh
country: United States
facility: NSABP Foundation, Inc.
state: Pennsylvania
city: Pittsburgh
country: United States
facility: University of Pittsburgh
state: Pennsylvania
city: Charleston
country: United States
facility: Roper Hospital
state: South Carolina
city: Greenville
country: United States
facility: Cancer Centers of the Carolinas
state: South Carolina
city: Lubbock
country: United States
facility: Joe Arrington Cancer Research & Treatment Center
state: Texas
city: Morgantown
country: United States
facility: Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at West Virginia University Hospitals
state: West Virginia
city: Montreal
country: Canada
facility: Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal
state: Quebec
city: Montreal
country: Canada
facility: Montreal General Hospital
state: Quebec
Study officials:
affiliation: NSABP Foundation Inc
name: Norman Wolmark, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Abraham J, Robidoux A, Tan AR, Limentani S, Sturtz K, Shalaby I, Alcorn H, Buyse ME, Wolmark N, Jacobs SA. Phase II randomized clinical trial evaluating neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens with weekly paclitaxel or eribulin followed by doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide in women with locally advanced HER2-negative breast cancer: NSABP Foundation Study FB-9. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2015 Jul;152(2):399-405. doi: 10.1007/s10549-015-3466-4. Epub 2015 Jul 1.