Alpelisib/iNOS Inhibitor/Nab-paclitaxel in Patients With HER2 Negative Metaplastic Breast Cancer (MpBC)

June 3, 2026 updated by: The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Phase II Trial of Alpelisib With iNOS Inhibitor and Nab-paclitaxel in Patients With HER2 Negative Metastatic or Locally Advanced Metaplastic Breast Cancer (MpBC)

This is a research study to test the safety and effectiveness of using the drug alpelisib together with chemotherapy (nab-paclitaxel) and a drug called L-NMMA in patients with HER2 negative metastatic or locally advanced metaplastic breast cancer, who have not responded to previous treatments.

Participants in this study in addition to the standard care chemotherapy will also receive the drug alpelisib and L-NMMA. The therapies will be administered every 3 weeks (1 cycle) until disease progression, toxicity or until the participant withdraws from the study. The nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy will be administered intravenously on Day 1 of the 3 week cycles. Participants will take the drug alpelisib by mouth once daily at a dose determined by a safety study and the drug L-NMMA will be given intravenously on days 1 to 5 of the 3 week cycles.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This is a Phase II trial with a dose escalation/de-escalation lead-in that will investigate the efficacy and safety of an iNOS inhibitor and nab-paclitaxel in combination with alpelisib in patients with HER2 negative, metastatic or locally advanced MpBC. The prognosis for metastatic or locally advanced metaplastic breast cancer (MpBC), a rare and highly chemotherapy-resistant subtype of TNBC, is even worse than for non-metaplastic TNBC, with a median overall survival ranging from 3 to 8 months.1 Standard systemic chemotherapy remains the only available treatment option for patients with metastatic or locally advanced MpBC, even though this disease is largely refractory to cytotoxic drugs. Therefore, combination strategies to understand and overcome mechanisms of resistance to improve marginal chemotherapeutic efficacy are needed to improve the prognosis of these patients. We have found that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is a critical target for overcoming chemotherapy resistance in TNBC.2,3 iNOS expression is increased and associated with poor prognosis in invasive TNBC and MpBC.2-5 It has been shown that nitric oxide (NO) through iNOS induces many of the major oncogenic pathways such as RAS/ERK, HIF1α, NF- κB, and others making this a unique oncogenic driver. One of the major oncogenic pathways activated by iNOS/NO is the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway.6-9 Alterations in the Pl3K/Akt pathway have also been linked with chemotherapy resistance, especially in MpBC.10-14 We hypothesize that addition of the PI3K inhibitor, alpelisib, to a pan-NOS inhibitor (L-NMMA) and nab-paclitaxel will increase objective response rate (ORR) in patients with HER2 negative metastatic or locally advanced MpBC. Both first- and second-line patients will be eligible for this trial. Patients may have received prior immunotherapy, per standard of care.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

36

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • Recruiting
        • National Institute of Health Clinical Center
        • Contact:
    • Texas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • Recruiting
        • The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
        • Contact:
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • Recruiting
        • Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center
        • Contact:
          • Polly Niravath, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. The patient (or legally acceptable representative if applicable) provides written informed consent for the study.
  2. At least 18 years of age on the day of informed consent signing.
  3. Histologically confirmed HER2 negative MpBC and/or Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) with squamous and/or sarcomatoid elements, including osseous, chondroid, and spindle morphology.
  4. HER2 negative status as defined by the current American Society of Clinical Oncology and College of American Pathologists guidelines at time of study entry.
  5. Locally advanced inoperable or metastatic MpBC with measurable disease by RECIST 1.1 Both first- and second-line patients will be eligible for this trial. Patients may have received prior immunotherapy, per standard of care.
  6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1.

  7. Adequate organ and marrow function as defined below:

    • Hemoglobin ≥9.0 g/dl (without blood transfusion within 2 weeks of laboratory test used to determine eligibility)
    • Absolute neutrophil count ≥1000/μL (without granulocyte colony stimulating factor support within 2 weeks of laboratory test used to determine eligibility)
    • Platelet count ≥100,000/μL (without transfusion within 2 weeks of laboratory test used to determine eligibility)
    • Serum total bilirubin (TB) ≤1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN; In the case of known Gilbert's syndrome, a higher serum TB [>1.5 x ULN] is allowed),
    • Aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase ≤5 x institutional ULN
    • Creatinine ≤1.5X the ULN or measured creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min/1.
  8. Fasting blood glucose of ≤140 mg/dl and HgbA1c ≤7.0.
  9. Ability to swallow oral medication.
  10. Ability to take aspirin.
  11. Women of childbearing potential must agree to use contraception for the duration of the study through 90 days after the last dose of study treatment. A condom is required for all sexually active male participants to prevent them from fathering a child AND to prevent delivery of study treatment via seminal fluid to their partner. In addition, male participants must not donate sperm during the study and up to the time period as specified in labels of study drugs.
  12. If patient received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting the study treatment.
  13. Willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study including undergoing treatment and scheduled visits and examinations.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Concomitant use of strong inhibitors or strong inducers of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4. The patient must have discontinued strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or strong CYP3A4 inducers for at least 1 week prior to study treatment initiation (Examples included in Appendix 2).
  2. Currently receiving warfarin or other coumarin-derived anticoagulant for treatment, prophylaxis, or otherwise. Therapy with DOACs, heparin, low molecular weight heparin, direct oral anticoagulants or fondaparinux is allowed.
  3. Concurrent use of medications that interact with nitrate/nitrite levels (Examples included in Appendix 3).
  4. Received previous treatment with nab-paclitaxel, Pl3K inhibitor, AKT inhibitor, or mTOR inhibitor.
  5. Known history of Steven Johnson's syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis.
  6. Since HAART agents are metabolized by CYP3A4, HIV positive patients will be excluded from this trial.
  7. Poorly controlled hypertension at baseline (defined as systolic blood pressure >150 mm Hg). Isolated, unconfirmed systolic BP elevations will NOT exclude participation. Patients with medication-controlled hypertension are allowed provided they have been on their current medications for at least 4 weeks prior to Cycle 1, Day 1.

  8. Has any of the following cardiac abnormalities:

    • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
    • History of documented congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association functional classification III-IV)
    • Documented cardiomyopathy
    • Left ventricular ejection fraction <50% as determined by multigated acquisition scan or echocardiogram
    • Myocardial infarction ~6 months prior to enrollment
    • Unstable angina pectoris
    • Serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
    • Symptomatic pericarditis
    • History of congenital QT prolongation
    • Absolute corrected QT interval of >480 msec in the presence of potassium >4.0 mEq/L and magnesium >1.8 mg/dl.
  9. Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 3 weeks prior to study treatment administration. NOTE: Patients who have entered the follow-up phase of an investigational study may participate as long as it has been 3 weeks after the last dose of the previous investigational agent.
  10. Known or suspected hypersensitivity to any component or excipient of the proposed regimen (nab-paclitaxel, alpelisib, iNOS inhibitor, aspirin).
  11. Known additional malignancy that requires active treatment.
  12. Pneumonitis/ interstitial lung disease on baseline CT scan of the chest or moderate to severe chronic lung disease
  13. Known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the study.
  14. Manifestations of malabsorption due to prior gastrointestinal surgery, gastrointestinal surgery disease, or an unknown reason.
  15. Symptomatic/untreated metastatic central nervous system disease.
  16. Type I diabetes mellitus irrespective of Hgb A1c OR uncontrolled type II diabetes mellitus defined as hemoglobin A1c >7%.
  17. Uncontrolled gastric ulcer
  18. ≥ Grade 2 sensory neuropathy
  19. Osteonecrosis of jaw
  20. Pancreatitis
  21. Pregnant, breastfeeding or expecting to conceive children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the prescreening or screening visit through 30 days after the last dose of study treatment.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: iNOS inhibitor and nab-paclitaxel in combination with alpelisib.
iNOS inhibitor and nab-paclitaxel in combination with alpelisib in patients with HER2 negative, metastatic or locally advanced MpBC.
Drug: L-NMMA
Patients with HER2 negative metastatic or locally advanced MpBC, will receive a combination of an iNOS inhibitor, nab-paclitaxel and alpelisib . As prophylaxis against deep venous thrombosis and hypertension, patients will receive aspirin (81 mg po daily) and amlodipine (10 mg po Days 0-5 each cycle). Metformin will be initiated at 500 mg once daily starting one week prior to treatment to reduce risk of severe hyperglycemia. Based on tolerability and serial blood sugar assessments, metformin dose will be increased to 500 mg twice daily, followed by 500 mg with breakfast and 1000 mg with dinner, followed by further increase to 1000 mg twice daily if needed. Insulin sensitizers and/or SGLT2i will be used as second anti-diabetic agents, if necessary. For prophylaxis of alpelisib rash, patients will be treated with an anti-histamine (cetirizine 10 mg daily) along with alpelisib.
Other Names:
  • iNOS inhibitor

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Define recommended phase II dose (RP2D)
Time Frame: The RP2D will be defined as the highest dose administered at which 6 patients complete treatment with experiencing <2 DLTs (Study completion is an average of 6 cycles, determined by diseases progression, unacceptable toxicity, physician's discretion)
Define recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of Alpelisib in combination with standard dose of q3wk nab-paclitaxel and L-NMMA
The RP2D will be defined as the highest dose administered at which 6 patients complete treatment with experiencing <2 DLTs (Study completion is an average of 6 cycles, determined by diseases progression, unacceptable toxicity, physician's discretion)
Objective response rate (ORR)
Time Frame: Study treatment will continue until progression, unacceptable toxicity, treating physician's discretion, or patient withdraws from the study. An average of 6 cycles q3week.
Objective response rate (ORR) of an iNOS inhibitor and nab-paclitaxel in combination with alpelisib in patients with HER2 negative metastatic or locally advanced MpBC.
Study treatment will continue until progression, unacceptable toxicity, treating physician's discretion, or patient withdraws from the study. An average of 6 cycles q3week.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
PFS of patients with HER2 negative metastatic or locally advanced MpBC
Time Frame: Study treatment will continue until progression, unacceptable toxicity, treating physician's discretion, or patient withdraws from the study. An average of 6 cycles q3week.
Progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with HER2 negative metastatic or locally advanced MpBC treated with an iNOS inhibitor and nab-paclitaxel in combination with alpelisib.
Study treatment will continue until progression, unacceptable toxicity, treating physician's discretion, or patient withdraws from the study. An average of 6 cycles q3week.
OS of patients with HER2 negative metastatic or locally advanced MpBC
Time Frame: Study treatment will continue until progression, unacceptable toxicity, treating physician's discretion, or patient withdraws from the study. An average of 6 cycles q3week.
Overall survival (OS) of patients with HER2 negative metastatic or locally advanced MpBC treated with an iNOS inhibitor and nab-paclitaxel in combination with alpelisib.
Study treatment will continue until progression, unacceptable toxicity, treating physician's discretion, or patient withdraws from the study. An average of 6 cycles q3week.
Analysis of responses to an iNOS inhibitor and nab-paclitaxel in combination with alpelisib.
Time Frame: Study treatment will continue until progression, unacceptable toxicity, treating physician's discretion, or patient withdraws from the study. An average of 6 cycles q3week.
Analysis of tissue and-blood-based correlates of responses to an iNOS inhibitor and nab-paclitaxel in combination with alpelisib in available specimens.
Study treatment will continue until progression, unacceptable toxicity, treating physician's discretion, or patient withdraws from the study. An average of 6 cycles q3week.
PIK3CA mutation
Time Frame: Core biopsy will be collected at Baseline and after Cycle 2. Each cycle is 21 days (q3week).
Tissue will be collected to detect the presence of a PIK3CA mutation (e.g. E545K, E542K, H1047R/Y/L), and efficacy according to PIK3CA mutation status assessed retrospectively.
Core biopsy will be collected at Baseline and after Cycle 2. Each cycle is 21 days (q3week).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Collaborators

Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Polly A Niravath, MD, Houston Methodist Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 12, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 2, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 13, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 13, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

December 21, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 3, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • PRO00037649 (HMCC-BR22-001)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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