Prospective Study of UDP-gluconoryltransferase 2B17 Genotype as a Predictive Marker of Exemestane PK and PD

Prospective Study of UDP-gluconoryltransferase (UGT) 2B17 Genotype as a Predictive Marker of Exemestane Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Asian Women With Hormone Receptor-positive Advanced Breast Cancer

Aromatase inhibitors have led to significant improvements in clinical outcomes for women with postmenopausal hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer. However, there is a notable absence of phase III comparisons among the three agents and therefore no clear indication of the superiority of one AI over the others. Furthermore, there remains a distinct lack of predictive biomarkers of AI efficacy and toxicity to inform clinical decisions. The metabolic pathways of exemestane have recently been delineated and UGT2B17 is the most active hepatic gluconoryltransferase responsible for the glucuronidation of the crucial active exemestane metabolite, 17-dihydroxyexemestane. The UGT2B17*2/*2 deletion genotype is associated with markedly reduced glucuronidation of 17-dihydroxyexemestane in vitro and is found more commonly in Asians than Caucasians (60-70% vs less than 10%). Our research group recently demonstrated significant reduction in glucuronidation of vorinostat, a UGT2B17 substrate, with a trend towards improved clinical benefit rate and progression-free survival in Asian breast cancer patients who were UGT2B17*2 homozygotes treated with this compound. In-vivo studies correlating UGT2B17*2 genotype with exemestane pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are lacking. We hypothesize that individuals with UGT2B17*2/*2 genotype have reduced glucuronidation of 17-dihydroxyexemestane and therefore have increased exposure to the active drug, resulting in improved treatment efficacy. We propose a study of exemestane in hormone receptor positive post-menopausal advanced breast cancer patients with prospective correlation of treatment outcome by UGT2B17 genotype. The primary endpoint is the correlation of genotype (UGT2B17*2/*2 vs those with at least one wild-type variant) with clinical benefit rate, and secondary endpoints include its association with exemestane pharmacokinetics, progression-free survival, overall survival and musculoskeletal toxicities.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Breast Carcinoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Exemestane

Detailed Description

This is a prospective non-randomised open-label study of exemestane in post-menopausal, hormone receptor positive advanced breast cancer patients, with pre-specified analysis of exemestane pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics according to UGT2B17 genotype (UGT2B17*2/*2 versus those with at least one wild-type allele). A total of 110 patients will be enrolled over a period of 30 months. Eligible patients will receive exemestane 25mg daily orally (as part of standard care) until progression of disease or intolerable toxicities. At the time of study entry, blood samples will be drawn for genotyping studies (for research purposes) but investigators will be blinded to the results. Pharmacokinetic sampling for exemestane and its metabolites will be performed at baseline and on day 29 (+/- 3 days) before dosing and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hours after exemestane ingestion. Patients will be evaluated on an 8-weekly basis for toxicities and efficacy assessments during the first 6 months of treatment, followed by 12-weekly thereafter until disease progression, unacceptable toxicities, or patient withdrawal.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 110
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Singapore
  • Singapore, Singapore, 119074
    • Recruiting
    • National University Hospital
    • Contact: Andrea LA Wong, MBBS; Phone Number: (65) 6772 5934; Email: andrea_la_wong@nuhs.edu.sg
    • Sub-Investigator: Soo Chin Lee, MBBS
    • Sub-Investigator: Siew Eng Lim, MBBS
    • Sub-Investigator: Sing Huang Tan, MBBS

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 99 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female, Age ≥ 21 years
• Histologically-proven hormone-receptor positive metastatic breast carcinoma
• A minimum of one prior line of endocrine therapy in the metastatic setting. First-line therapy is permitted if the patient relapses while on or within 6 months of adjuvant endocrine therapy.
• Patients with both measurable and non-measurable disease as per the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours (RECIST) v1.1 may be enrolled.
• Eastern co-operative group (ECOG) performance status of < 2 and estimated life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
• Post-menopausal women* or pre-menopausal women on ovarian suppression with FSH and plasma oestradiol levels in menopausal range within 21 days of study enrollment
• Adequate organ function including the following:

Bone marrow:

• Absolute neutrophil (segmented and bands) count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L
• Platelets ≥ 100 x 109/L

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN),
• ALT and AST ≤ 2.5x ULN

Renal:

o Calculated creatinine clearance >35ml/minute

• Signed informed consent from patient or legal representative
• Pre-menopausal females must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 21 days of study enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Concurrent administration of other anti-tumor therapies, including cytotoxic chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and immunotherapy are prohibited. Concomitant bisphosphonates and gonadotropin-releasing hormone therapy are allowed.
• Patients must have recovered from the toxicities of the previous anti-cancer therapy.
• Second primary malignancy that is clinically detectable at the time of consideration for study enrollment.
• Prior use of exemestane in the metastatic setting or relapse while on adjuvant exemestane or within 6 months of completing adjuvant exemestane.
• Major surgery within 28 days of study drug administration.
• Concomitant use of potent CYP3A4 inducers (Table 1, section 3.5.3); a washout period of 14 days is required for patients discontinuing these medications prior to study enrollment.
• Active infection that in the opinion of the investigator would compromise the patient's ability to tolerate therapy.
• Pregnancy.
• Breast feeding.
• Serious concomitant disorders that would compromise the safety of the patient or compromise the patient's ability to complete the study, at the discretion of the investigator.
• Symptomatic brain metastasis.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: exemestane standard treatment; Patients will receive exemestane 25mg daily orally after a meal until progression of disease, intolerable toxicities, voluntary withdrawal or termination of the study.	Drug: Exemestane; Exemestane is commercially available and will be obtained locally from the manufacturer. There are no experimental treatments in this study.; Other Names: trade name Aromasin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Correlation of UGT2B17*2 deletion genotype with clinical benefit rate (CBR)	The correlation of genotype (UGT2B17 *2/*2 versus those with at least one wild-type allele) with clinical benefit rate (CBR), defined as the percentage achieving CR, PR and SD in patients with measurable disease or the absence of disease progression in patients with non-measurable disease, lasting at least 24 weeks.	24 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Correlation of UGT2B17*2 deletion genotype with exemestane pharmacokinetics, objective response rates (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and musculoskeletal toxicities	The correlation of genotype (UGT2B17 *2/*2 versus those with at least one wild-type allele) with: Objective response rates (ORR), as defined by a best overall response of CR or PR.; Progression-free survival (PFS), as defined by the time from the date of study enrollment until the first date of documented disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.; Overall survival (OS) as defined by the time from the date of study enrollment until the date of death due to any cause.; Grade 2 and above musculoskeletal toxicities, as defined by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) v4.0.; Pharmacokinetic parameters, in particular, AUC of exemestane-17-O-glucuronide, 17-dihydroexemestane and their ratio.	24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National University Hospital, Singapore
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Andrea LA Wong, MBBS, National University Hospital, Singapore

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Dowsett M, Cuzick J, Ingle J, Coates A, Forbes J, Bliss J, Buyse M, Baum M, Buzdar A, Colleoni M, Coombes C, Snowdon C, Gnant M, Jakesz R, Kaufmann M, Boccardo F, Godwin J, Davies C, Peto R. Meta-analysis of breast cancer outcomes in adjuvant trials of aromatase inhibitors versus tamoxifen. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jan 20;28(3):509-18. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2009.23.1274. Epub 2009 Nov 30.
• Mouridsen H, Gershanovich M, Sun Y, Perez-Carrion R, Boni C, Monnier A, Apffelstaedt J, Smith R, Sleeboom HP, Janicke F, Pluzanska A, Dank M, Becquart D, Bapsy PP, Salminen E, Snyder R, Lassus M, Verbeek JA, Staffler B, Chaudri-Ross HA, Dugan M. Superior efficacy of letrozole versus tamoxifen as first-line therapy for postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer: results of a phase III study of the International Letrozole Breast Cancer Group. J Clin Oncol. 2001 May 15;19(10):2596-606. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2001.19.10.2596. Erratum In: J Clin Oncol 2001 Jul 1;19(13):3302.
• Nabholtz JM, Buzdar A, Pollak M, Harwin W, Burton G, Mangalik A, Steinberg M, Webster A, von Euler M. Anastrozole is superior to tamoxifen as first-line therapy for advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women: results of a North American multicenter randomized trial. Arimidex Study Group. J Clin Oncol. 2000 Nov 15;18(22):3758-67. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2000.18.22.3758.
• Paridaens RJ, Dirix LY, Beex LV, Nooij M, Cameron DA, Cufer T, Piccart MJ, Bogaerts J, Therasse P. Phase III study comparing exemestane with tamoxifen as first-line hormonal treatment of metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women: the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Breast Cancer Cooperative Group. J Clin Oncol. 2008 Oct 20;26(30):4883-90. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2007.14.4659. Epub 2008 Sep 15.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): June 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Anticipated): August 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 30, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 31, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): August 1, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): June 22, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 21, 2016
• Last Verified: June 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: breast cancer; hormone receptor positive
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Diseases; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antineoplastic Agents; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Hormone Antagonists; Aromatase Inhibitors; Steroid Synthesis Inhibitors; Estrogen Antagonists; Exemestane
• Other Study ID Numbers: BR05/14/12; 2012/00428 (Other Identifier: NHG DSRB Singapore)