Outcomes in patients (pts) aged ≥65 years in the phase 3 ASCENT study of sacituzumab govitecan (SG) in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC).
Authors: Kevin Kalinsky, Mafalda Oliveira, Tiffany A. Traina, Sara M. Tolaney, Delphine Loirat, Kevin Punie, Sara A. Hurvitz, Filipa Lynce, Erika P. Hamilton, Rita Nanda, Lowell L. Hart, Paul D. Richards, Zulfiqar A. Malik, Hope S. Rugo, Veronique Dieras, Aditya Bardia, Quan Hong, Martin Sebastian Olivo, Loretta Itri, Sibylle Loibl
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2021)

1011 Background: Approximately 20% of pts diagnosed with TNBC are aged ≥65 y. Often, older pts are less fit for chemotherapy due to a greater rate of comorbidities, increased use of medications, and pre-existing frailty or functional loss. SG is an antibody-drug conjugate composed of an anti–Trop-2 antibody coupled to the cytotoxic SN-38 payload via a proprietary, hydrolyzable linker. The landmark phase 3 ASCENT study (NCT02574455) showed improved outcomes with SG vs single-agent chemotherapy of physician’s choice (TPC) in pts with relapsed/refractory mTNBC (median progression-free survival [PFS], 5.6 vs 1.7 mo; median overall survival [OS], 12.1 vs 6.7 mo). Here we assess the impact of age on the efficacy and safety of SG in ASCENT. Methods: Pts with mTNBC refractory/relapsing after ≥2 prior chemotherapies were randomized 1:1 to receive SG (10 mg/kg IV on days 1 and 8, every 21 days) or TPC (capecitabine, eribulin, vinorelbine, or gemcitabine) until disease progression/unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was PFS per RECIST 1.1 by independent review in brain metastases-negative (BMNeg) pts. Safety outcomes were assessed in all treated pts. This prespecified subgroup analysis assessed the impact of age (pts ≥65 y) on PFS, OS, and safety. Results: Of 529 pts enrolled, 468 were BMNeg (median age, 54 y); of these, 44/235 pts (19%) who received SG and 46/233 pts (20%) who received TPC were aged ≥65 y. SG treatment improved median PFS vs TPC in pts ≥65 y (7.1 vs 2.4 mo; HR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.12-0.40). SG vs TPC treatment also improved median OS in pts ≥65 y (15.3 vs 8.2 mo; HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.22-0.64). Treatment with SG vs TPC resulted in higher ORR (50% vs 0%) and clinical benefit rate (CBR, 61% vs 9%) in pts ≥65 y. Of the 7 pts ≥75 y who received SG, 2 had partial response, 4 had stable disease [SD], and 1 had SD &gt; 6 mo as best response. In pts &lt; 65 y, median PFS for SG vs TPC was 4.6 vs 1.7 mo (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.35-0.59), and median OS was 11.2 vs 6.6 mo (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.40-0.64), respectively; the ORR and CBR were 31% vs 6% and 41% vs 9%, respectively. Pts ≥65 y treated with SG vs TPC had similar rates of all grade and grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). TEAEs leading to dose reduction were similar in pts ≥65 y in the SG vs TPC arms (35% vs 33%) and were lower in pts &lt; 65 y (19% vs 24%). Key treatment-related TEAEs leading to dose reduction in pts ≥65 y in the SG vs TPC arms were neutropenia (including febrile neutropenia; 14% vs 25%), fatigue (10% vs 4%), diarrhea (6% vs 0%), and nausea (4% vs 0%). TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation with SG vs TPC were low in pts ≥65 y (2% vs 2%) and &lt; 65 y (5% vs 6%). There were no treatment-related AEs leading to death in any SG-treated age group. Conclusions: Irrespective of age, pts who received SG had a significant survival benefit vs TPC, with a tolerable safety profile. Proactive AE monitoring and management will allow optimal therapeutic exposure to SG in older pts. Clinical trial information: NCT02574455 .