Conditions: Breast Cancer
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 2
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This open-label, randomized crossover study evaluated the quality of life, efficacy, and safety of subcutaneous Herceptin (trastuzumab) injected either into the thigh or the upper arm of participants with early HER2-positive breast cancer.

Detailed description:
In the run-in phase, participants received trastuzumab intravenously every 3 weeks for 18 weeks (Cycles 1-6). They first received trastuzumab 8 mg/kg once (Cycle 1) followed by trastuzumab 6 mg/kg 5 times for 15 weeks (Cycles 2-6). Participants could also receive a maximum of 6 cycles of standard chemotherapy for early breast cancer (neo-adjuvant or adjuvant) in the run-in phase.

Following the run-in phase, participants were randomized to receive trastuzumab 600 mg subcutaneously every 3 weeks in the thigh and upper arm in a cross-over design for a total of 24 weeks (Cycles 7-14). They received trastuzumab either in the thigh first for 4 cycles (Cycles 7-10) followed by trastuzumab in the upper arm for 4 cycles (Cycles 11-14) or the upper arm first (Cycles 7-10) followed by the thigh (Cycles 11-14). For Cycles 15-18, participants could choose the injection site for trastuzumab 600 mg subcutaneously every 3 weeks.

Arms:
arm 1: In the run-in phase, participants received trastuzumab intravenously every 3 weeks for 18 weeks (Cycles 1-6). They first received trastuzumab 8 mg/kg once (Cycle 1) followed by trastuzumab 6 mg/kg 5 times for 15 weeks (Cycles 2-6). Participants could also receive a maximum of 6 cycles of standard chemotherapy for early breast cancer (neo-adjuvant or adjuvant) in the run-in phase. Following the run-in phase, participants received trastuzumab 600 mg subcutaneously (SC) every 3 weeks into the thigh for 12 weeks (Cycles 7-10) followed by trastuzumab 600 mg SC every 3 weeks into the upper arm for 12 weeks (Cycles 11-14). In Cycles 15-18, participants received trastuzumab 600 mg SC every 3 weeks into either the thigh or the upper arm (participant's choice) for 12 weeks (Cycles 15-18). arm 2: In the run-in phase, participants received trastuzumab intravenously every 3 weeks for 18 weeks (Cycles 1-6). They first received trastuzumab 8 mg/kg once (Cycle 1) followed by trastuzumab 6 mg/kg 5 times for 15 weeks (Cycles 2-6). Participants could also receive a maximum of 6 cycles of standard chemotherapy for early breast cancer (neo-adjuvant or adjuvant) in the run-in phase. Following the run-in phase, participants received trastuzumab 600 mg subcutaneously (SC) every 3 weeks into the upper arm for 12 weeks (Cycles 7-10) followed by trastuzumab 600 mg SC every 3 weeks into the thigh for 12 weeks (Cycles 11-14). In Cycles 15-18, participants received trastuzumab 600 mg SC every 3 weeks into either the thigh or the upper arm (participant's choice) for 12 weeks (Cycles 15-18).

Interventions: intervention 1: Trastuzumab - intravenous solution intervention 2: Trastuzumab - subcutaneous solution intervention 3: Chemotherapy
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Trastuzumab was supplied as a powder to be reconstituted as a solution for intravenous infusion. intervention 2: Trastuzumab was supplied as a solution for subcutaneous injection. intervention 3: Standard chemotherapy for early breast cancer.

Protocol document: