Dose EScalation Induction of EvERolimus (Desiree)

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Phase II Study to Evaluate the Tolerability of an Induction Dose Escalation of Everolimus in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

The BOLERO-2 study demonstrated a benefit for patients who received everolimus in addition to exemestane in patients who progressed during/after a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor;

Routine use of everolimus shows an high rate of intolerability due to mucositis/stomatitis especially during the first 12 weeks of treatment leading cause for treatment discontinuation not related to tumor progression;

GeparQuinto study (setting III: non-responders): everolimus was given as salvage treatment in combination with paclitaxel for patients without response to 4 cycles epirubicin/cyclophosphamide with/without bevacizumab.

A dose-escalation schema was successfully used to improve tolerability of everolimus together with the cytotoxic Agent.

Everolimus plus exemestane has improved the prognosis of metastatic breast cancer significantly. Desiree-study aims to improve the tolerability, which is necessary in order to achieve an adequate dose intensity for the patients in Routine care.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Breast Cancer; Hormone Receptor Positive Tumor
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: 3 weeks Conventional Everolimus Dosing; Drug: Open Label Phase with conventional 10mg Everolimus Dosing week 4-24; Drug: Standard Care after 24 weeks; Drug: 3 weeks Dose Induction of Everolimus

Detailed Description

The BOLERO-2 study demonstrated an enormous benefit for patients who received everolimus in addition to exemestane in patients who progressed during/after a non steroidal (NSAI), which led to approval of everolimus in this indication. However, experience from routine use report a high rate of intolerability of this innovative treatment approach especially during the first 12 weeks of treatment. Most common side effect is mucositis/Mucositis which is considered the leading cause for treatment discontinuation not related to tumor progression.

This outside clinical trial experience is contrary to findings from BOLERO-2, where the number of patients still taking full-dose (10mg) of everolimus at 4, 8, and 12 weeks is 77.8%, 75.6%, and 75.6%, respectively. These findings are in concordance with non-interventional studies. However, findings might be biased by positive pre-selection.

In the non-responder part (setting III) of the neoadjuvant GeparQuinto study, everolimus was given as salvage treatment in combination with paclitaxel for patients without response to 4 cycles epirubicin/cyclophosphamide +/- bevacizumab. A dose-escalation schema was successfully used to improve tolerability of everolimus together with the cytotoxic agent. In fact the addition of everolimus to paclitaxel led only to increases of grades 1-4 leukopenia, grades 1-2 thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, skin changes and hyperlipidemia. Grades 3-4 hematological and nonhematological toxic effects were infrequent with no differences between treatment arms.

Moreover, Ravaud et al performed a metaanalysis of clinical trials in order to evaluate the potential relationship between everolimus exposure, safety and efficacy. Previous studies have shown that maximum everolimus concentrations are reached 1-2 hours after administering 5-70 mg oral doses, maximum everolimus concentrations increase in a dose-proportional manner between 5 mg and 10 mg and that continuous 5-10 mg once-daily dosing enables steady state to be achieved within 1 week.

The metaanalysis shows that a two-fold increase in the minimum concentration of everolimus increased the probability of tumor size reduction (odds ratio 1.4), which was associated with a trend for reduced risk of PFS events (risk ratio [RR] 0.9), but with an increased risk of grade 3 pulmonary toxicity (RR1.93), Mucositis (RR 1.49), and metabolic toxicity (RR 1.3).

Taking together these results suggest a dose-dependent antitumor effect of everolimus that have to be balanced against the correlated increased toxicities. For this reason the optimal dose and schedule need to be explored within randomized prospective clinical trial, in order to increase compliance and tolerability, maximizing efficacy.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 156
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Bielefeld, Germany, 33604
  • Erlangen, Germany, 91054
    • University of Erlangen
  • Essen, Germany, 45136
  • Goslar, Germany, 38642
  • Hanau, Germany, 63450
  • Karlsruhe, Germany, 76135
  • Kiel, Germany, 24105
  • Köln, Germany, 50931
  • Mainz, Germany, 55131
  • München, Germany, 80638
  • Rotenburg, Germany, 27356
  • Weinheim, Germany, 69469
  • Hessen
    • Neu Isenburg, Hessen, Germany, 63263
      • Sana Klinikum Offenbach / German Breast Group
  • Sachsen
    • Dresden, Sachsen, Germany, 01307
      • TU Dresden

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Eligibiltiy according to Everolimus label (ie. postmenopausal women)

Inclusion Criteria (most important)

• Locally advanced or metastatic stage of disease not amenable to curative treatment by surgery or radiotherapy alone.
• No indication for chemotherapy (e.g. symptomatic visceral metastasis) -Histological confirmed hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2- negative carcinoma of the breast.
• Postmenopausal women

• Disease progression following prior therapy with non steroidal aromatase inhibitors (NSAI), defined as:

  1. Recurrence while on, or following completion of an adjuvant treatment with Letrozole or Anastrozole, or
  2. Progression while on or following completion of Letrozole or Anastrozole treatment for ABC/MBC. Note: Non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors (i.e. Letrozole or Anastrozole) do not have to be the last treatment prior to enrollment. Other prior anticancer therapy, e.g. Tamoxifen, Fulvestrant, Exemestane, is also allowed. Patients must have recovered to grade 1 or better from any adverse events (except alopecia) related to previous therapy prior to enrollment.
• At least 4 weeks since radiotherapy, with full recovery. The measurable disease must be completely outside the radiation field or there must be pathologic proof of newly progressive disease.

Exclusion Criteria (most important):

• Concurrent immunotherapy or hormonal therapy (contraceptive and/or replacement therapy). Bisphosphonates or denosumab may be continued or started before randomization.
• Life expectancy of less than 3 months.
• Parenchymal brain metastases, unless adequately controlled by surgery and/or radiotherapy.
• Any ongoing toxicity from prior anti-cancer therapy that is grade 3-4 and/or that is progressing in severity, except alopecia or anemia controlled by growth factors.
• Known or suspected congestive heart failure (>NYHA I) and/or coronary heart disease, angina pectoris requiring anti-anginal medication, previous history of myocardial infarction ≤ 6months, evidence of transmural infarction on ECG, un- or poorly controlled arterial hypertension (i.e. BP >150/100 mmHg under treatment with two antihypertensive drugs), rhythm abnormalities requiring permanent treatment, clinically significant valvular heart disease.
• Currently active infection.
• History of other malignancies within the last 5 years which significantly affect the diagnosis, assessment or prognosis of metastatic breast cancer.
• Malabsorption syndrome or insufficient gastrointestinal function, preexisting diagnosis of ulcerative colitis.
• Concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs; participation in another clinical trial with any investigational not marketed drug within 30 days prior to study entry.
• Insufficiently controlled diabetes, known HIV infection or chronic hepatitis B or C and seriously impaired liver function (Child-Pugh, class A, B or C).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Conventional Everolimus dosing according to label; everolimus 10 mg/day, week 1-3: 4x2.5 mg/day (blinded); week 4-24: 10mg/day (open according to label) + further treatment according to standard of care	Drug: 3 weeks Conventional Everolimus Dosing; Comparing a conventional dosing approach starting with 10 mg at first dose versus a dose-escalating schema over 21 days in patients receiving everolimus in combination with exemestane for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. All patients will be treated within the approved indication of everolimus in combination with exemestane. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio; Drug: Open Label Phase with conventional 10mg Everolimus Dosing week 4-24; All patients will receive open label Everolimus with Exemestane for 21 weeks according to label; Drug: Standard Care after 24 weeks; It is up to the discretion of the investigator to continue with Everolimus+Exemestane beyond 24 weeks
Experimental: 3 week Dose Induction of Everolimus; an escalating dose of everolimus as follows: week 1: 1x2.5 mg verum + 3x placebo/day; week 2: 2x2.5 mg verum + 2x placebo/day; week 3: 3x2,5 mg verum + 1x placebo/day; week 4-24: 10 mg/day (open according to label) + further treatment according to standard of care	Drug: Open Label Phase with conventional 10mg Everolimus Dosing week 4-24; All patients will receive open label Everolimus with Exemestane for 21 weeks according to label; Drug: Standard Care after 24 weeks; It is up to the discretion of the investigator to continue with Everolimus+Exemestane beyond 24 weeks; Drug: 3 weeks Dose Induction of Everolimus; Comparing a conventional dosing approach starting with 10 mg at first dose versus a dose-escalating schema over 21 days in patients receiving everolimus in combination with exemestane for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. All patients will be treated within the approved indication of everolimus in combination with exemestane. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
cumulative rate Mucositis grade 2-4 (WHO's oral toxicity scale (OTS))	To compare the cumulative rate of mucositis/stomatitis grade 2-4 (WHO's oral toxicity scale (OTS)) at 12 weeks after start of treatment using a conventional and a dose-escalating schema of everolimus in combination with exemestane in patients with metastatic breast cancer and progression or relapse after non-steroidal aromatase-inhibitor treatment. Endpoint measurement: First episode of mucositis WHO's OTS 2-4 any time during a 12 week period after start of everolimus	week1 to week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
cumulative rate Mucositis grade 2-4 (WHO's oral toxicity scale (OTS))	To compare the cumulative rate of mucositis/stomatitis grade 2-4 (WHO's oral toxicity scale (OTS)) at 24 weeks after start of treatment. Incidence of first episodes of mucositis/stomatitis WHO's OTS grade 2-4 any time during a 24 week period.	week 1 to 24
cumulative rate Mucositis any grade (WHO's oral toxicity scale (OTS))	To compare the cumulative rate of mucositis/stomatitis grade 1 and any grade (WHO's oral toxicity scale (OTS)) at 12 and 24 weeks after start of treatment. Incidence of first episodes of mucositis/stomatitis WHO's OTS grade 1 and any grade any time during a 12 and 24 week period.	week 1 to 12 and week 1 to 24
Patients on conventional dose Everolimus 10mg	To compare the rate of patients on 10mg daily at 12 weeks and 24 weeks after start of everolimus treatment. Average dose of treatment during week 12 and during week 24.	week 12 and week 24
Clinical Benefit Rate (CBR)	To compare the clinical benefit rate (CR, PR und SD >=16 Weeks) at 24 weeks after start of everolimus treatment. Clinical benefit rate (CBR) is defined as all patients with no evidence for tumor progression at 24 weeks after start of everolimus treatment.	week 24
Safety other than Mucositis	To compare the safety with regard to other organ signs and symptoms.Safety by toxicity grades in general is defined by the NCI-CTCAE version 4.03.	week 1 to 24
Time to Mucositis grade 2-4 (WHO's oral toxicity scale (OTS))	To compare the time to grade ≥2 mucositis/stomatitis	week 1 to 24
Cumulative Dose	To compare the cumulative dose at 4 weeks	week 4
RDI	To compare the relative dose intensity for everolimus. Relative dose intensity for everolimus is the ratio of Actual Total Dose Intensity (ATDI) and Planned Total Dose Intensity (PTDI), expressed as a percentage.	week 1 to 24
QoL FACTB	To compare quality of life using the FACT-B questionnaire and the QSDQ	week 4, week 12, End of Therapy Visit (week 25-28)
QoL QSDQ	To compare quality of life using the FACT-B questionnaire and the QSDQ	daily till week12

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Biomarker for Breast Cancer	Other objectives: Potential biomarkers predicting safety and compliance will be determined after completion of study treatment	Baseline and End of Therapy Visit (week 25-28)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: German Breast Group
• Collaborators: Novartis
• Investigators: Study Chair: Sibylle Loibl, Prof., MD, ASCO, ESGO, ESMO, DKG, DGGG, AGO, DGS, BIG, BCIRG, St. Gallen Faculty Member, SABCS Faculty member

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Schmidt M, Lubbe K, Decker T, Thill M, Bauer L, Muller V, Link T, Furlanetto J, Reinisch M, Mundhenke C, Hoffmann O, Zahn MO, Muller L, Denkert C, van Mackelenbergh M, Fasching PA, Burchardi N, Nekljudova V, Loibl S. A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, phase II study to evaluate the tolerability of an induction dose escalation of everolimus in patients with metastatic breast cancer (DESIREE). ESMO Open. 2022 Dec;7(6):100601. doi: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2022.100601. Epub 2022 Nov 7.

Helpful Links

• Desiree website on German Breast Group home portal

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 5, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 11, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): March 12, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 23, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 22, 2022
• Last Verified: February 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Metastatic; Recurrent; Stage IV; Stage IIIB
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Diseases; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Antineoplastic Agents; Immunosuppressive Agents; Immunologic Factors; Everolimus
• Other Study ID Numbers: GBG 86