Pathologic and molecular responses to neoadjuvant trastuzumab and/or lapatinib from a phase II randomized trial in HER2-positive breast cancer (TRIO-US B07)
Sara A Hurvitz, Jennifer L Caswell-Jin, Katherine L McNamara, Jason J Zoeller, Gregory R Bean, Robert Dichmann, Alejandra Perez, Ravindranath Patel, Lee Zehngebot, Heather Allen, Linda Bosserman, Brian DiCarlo, April Kennedy, Armando Giuliano, Carmen Calfa, David Molthrop, Aruna Mani, Hsiao-Wang Chen, Judy Dering, Brad Adams, Eran Kotler, Michael F Press, Joan S Brugge, Christina Curtis, Dennis J Slamon, Sara A Hurvitz, Jennifer L Caswell-Jin, Katherine L McNamara, Jason J Zoeller, Gregory R Bean, Robert Dichmann, Alejandra Perez, Ravindranath Patel, Lee Zehngebot, Heather Allen, Linda Bosserman, Brian DiCarlo, April Kennedy, Armando Giuliano, Carmen Calfa, David Molthrop, Aruna Mani, Hsiao-Wang Chen, Judy Dering, Brad Adams, Eran Kotler, Michael F Press, Joan S Brugge, Christina Curtis, Dennis J Slamon
Abstract
In this multicenter, open-label, randomized phase II investigator-sponsored neoadjuvant trial with funding provided by Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline (TRIO-US B07, Clinical Trials NCT00769470), participants with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer (N = 128) were recruited from 13 United States oncology centers throughout the Translational Research in Oncology network. Participants were randomized to receive trastuzumab (T; N = 34), lapatinib (L; N = 36), or both (TL; N = 58) as HER2-targeted therapy, with each participant given one cycle of this designated anti-HER2 therapy alone followed by six cycles of standard combination chemotherapy with the same anti-HER2 therapy. The primary objective was to estimate the rate of pathologic complete response (pCR) at the time of surgery in each of the three arms. In the intent-to-treat population, we observed similar pCR rates between T (47%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 30-65%) and TL (52%, 95% CI 38-65%), and a lower pCR rate with L (25%, 95% CI 13-43%). In the T arm, 100% of participants completed all protocol-specified treatment prior to surgery, as compared to 69% in the L arm and 74% in the TL arm. Tumor or tumor bed tissue was collected whenever possible pre-treatment (N = 110), after one cycle of HER2-targeted therapy alone (N = 89), and at time of surgery (N = 59). Higher-level amplification of HER2 and hormone receptor (HR)-negative status were associated with a higher pCR rate. Large shifts in the tumor, immune, and stromal gene expression occurred after one cycle of HER2-targeted therapy. In contrast to pCR rates, the L-containing arms exhibited greater proliferation reduction than T at this timepoint. Immune expression signatures increased in all arms after one cycle of HER2-targeted therapy, decreasing again by the time of surgery. Our results inform approaches to early assessment of sensitivity to anti-HER2 therapy and shed light on the role of the immune microenvironment in response to HER2-targeted agents.
Conflict of interest statement
S.H. received contracted research and medical writing assistance from Ambrx, Amgen, Arvinas, Bayer, Daiichi-Sankyo, Genentech/Roche, GSK, Immunomedics, Lilly, Macrogenics, Novartis, Pfizer, OBI Pharma, Pieris, Puma, Radius, Sanofi, Seattle Genetics, and Dignitana. A.P. received institutional research support from Genentech, AstraZeneca, Immunomedics, Nektar, and Macrogenics. L.B. received honoraria from and/or was on the speaker bureau for AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Merck, Puma, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen, Johnson & Johnson, Genentech/Roche, Sandoz, Dendreon, and Genomic Health, and performed consulting work for Integra Connect and Anthem Blue Cross. A.M. is employed by Genentech/Roche and owns stock in Roche. M.P. received research support from Cepheid, was on the Scientific Advisory Board and received research support from Eli Lilly, Zymeworks, and Novartis, was a consultant for and received research support from Puma, and was on the Scientific Advisory Board for Biocartis. C.C. is a scientific advisor to GRAIL and reports stock options as well as consulting for GRAIL and Genentech. D.S. received research funding from Pfizer, Novartis, Syndax, Millenium Pharmaceuticals, Aileron Therapeutics, Bayer, and Genentech, owned stock in Biomarin, Amgen, Seattle Genetics, and Pfizer, served on the Board of Directors for BioMarin, and performed consulting/advisory board work for Eli Lilly, Novartis, Bayer, and Pfizer. The remaining authors declare no competing interests.
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