Pertuzumab a New Therapeutic Option for Patients with HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

October 2012, Vol 3, No 7

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide.1 In the United States, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer, as well as an additional 57,650 cases of carcinoma in situ, were expected to be diagnosed in 2011. Approximately 39,500 deaths from breast cancer were expected to occur in 2011.2

During the years 2004 through 2008, the median age at the diagnosis of invasive breast cancer was 61 years.2 Most breast cancers are invasive or infiltrating at diagnosis. Of the cases diagnosed during 2000 through 2007, more than 60% were localized, approximately 38% were regional, approximately 7% were metastatic (stage IV), and approximately 2% were of un­known stage.2

The risk of death is increased with more advanced stages at diagnosis.3 In patients with invasive breast cancer (diagnosed 2001-2007), the estimated 5-year survival is 99% for localized disease, 84% for regional disease, and 23% for metastatic breast cancer.3

In addition to stage, molecular markers can provide important prognostic information that is helpful in selecting treatment. These markers include hormone receptor status (ie, estrogen and progesterone) and HER2 expression. Expression of the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) confers a more favorable prognosis, whereas the risk of death is 1.5 to 2 times greater in the absence of ER and PR expression.2

Overexpression of HER2 (HER2-positive) and triple-negative breast cancer (ER-negative, PR-negative, and HER2-negative status) are associated with a less favorable prognosis. However, the availability of HER2-targeted therapy, such as trastuzumab, has reversed much of the adverse prognostic impact of HER2 overexpression.2

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Approximately 18% to 30% of all breast cancers are HER2-positive, and these tumors have a faster rate of proliferation than tumors that lack overexpression of HER2-neu.4,5 All invasive breast cancers should be tested by gene amplification or protein overexpression assays to identify HER2-positive breast cancers in women who can benefit from trastuzumab and other HER2-directed therapy.

In 2006, trastuzumab became the first therapy targeted to the HER2-neu receptor to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At first, trastuzumab’s approval was restricted to the treatment of meta­-sta­tic breast cancer, but the drug was subsequently found to be effective in early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer. In one of the pivotal studies that led to trastuzumab’s approval in the adjuvant setting, trastuzumab reduced the risk of recurrence by 52% and the risk of death by 33% in early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer versus chemotherapy alone.6

Lapatinib, a second HER2-targeted therapy, has been found effective in combination with capecitabine for the treatment of HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that has become resistant to trastuzumab.7 It was approved by the FDA for this indication in 2010. The use of lapatinib is limited by its propensity to cause diarrhea, which occurs in approximately 40% of patients who take the drug.8

Pertuzumab, the third HER2-targeted agent with a unique mechanism of action, was approved in July 2012 by the FDA for the treatment of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer in combination with trastuzumab plus docetaxel.

Pertuzumab’s approval was hailed as “an advancement in the treatment of breast cancer that has not been seen since Herceptin was launched over a decade ago.”9 As with trastuzumab, pertuzumab will be studied earlier in the course of breast cancer as adjuvant therapy in the Adjuvant Pertuzumab and Herceptin in Initial Therapy (APHINITY) trial.

Additional anti–HER2-targeted thera­pies are currently under development, including the novel immunocon­ju­-gate therapy T-DM1, which links trastuzumab to maytansine, a potent cytotoxic chemotherapy.5 The availability of increasing numbers of therapeutic options for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancers provides hope to patients and challenges to clinicians as they determine the optimal use of these agents in combinations and in sequences.

Economic and Quality-of-Life Burden of Breast Cancer

Cancer care is “big business” in the United States. The estimated cost of cancer care for survivors is in the billions of dollars. In 2010, 13.8 million cancer survivors had associated costs of $124.57 billion. In 2020, there will be an estimated 18.1 million cancer survivors, with an estimated price tag of $157.77 billion.10 These figures represent a projected 27% increase in the medical costs of cancer care in the United States from 2010 to 2020. The largest increases are expected in the continuing phase of care for prostate cancer (42%) and female breast cancer (32%).10

In addition to economics, the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, especially in the more advanced stages, are associated with quality-of-life and emotional burdens. Patients have to learn how to manage and organize their medical records, be concerned about paying for treatment, adhere to treatment, and they must be prepared to discuss their cancer with family and close friends. In addition, patients are advised to pay attention to good nutritional principles and incorporate exercise into their daily lives, even if they are experiencing fatigue.11

Breast cancer treatments may be associated with debilitating symptoms, including hot flashes, depression, cognitive problems (ie, “chemo brain”), weight gain, lymphedema, and painful sexual intercourse. Other treatment-related side effects can include nausea and vomiting, cardiac problems, hair loss, peripheral neuropathy, hematologic side effects, and mucositis.

Pertuzumab’s Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of action of pertuzumab is distinct from that of trastuzumab. Trastuzumab binds to the subdomain IV of the HER2 extracellular domain and exerts its antitumor effects by blocking HER2 cleavage, stimulating antibody-dependent, cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and inhibiting ligand-independent HER2-mediated mitogenic signaling.12,13

Despite treatment with trastuzumab, most HER2-positive metastatic cancers will progress, which has led to efforts to develop new targeted therapies, such as pertuzumab.

Pertuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the HER2 receptor at a different site than trastuzumab. Pertuzumab prevents HER2 from dimerizing (or pairing) with other potential HER receptor partners, including EGFR/HER1, HER3, and HER4, resulting in de­creased downstream signaling.14

Pertuzumab and trastuzumab have complementary mechanisms of action, so when these agents are used together, they achieve a more comprehensive block­ade of HER2 signaling and greater antitumor activity than either agent alone in experimental models of breast cancer.15 Phase 2 clinical trials of this combination have borne out activity in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.16

Phase 3 Clinical Trial

The phase 3 clinical trial Clinical Evaluation of Pertuzumab and Tras­tuzumab (CLEOPATRA) has led to the FDA’s recent approval of pertuzumab in combination with trastuzumab plus docetaxel in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.16

Trial Design

The study was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted from February 2008 through July 2010, at 204 centers
in 25 countries. Patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either placebo plus trastuzumab plus docetaxel (control arm) or pertuzumab plus trastuzumab plus docetaxel (ex­peri­mental arm). Patients were stratified according to geographic region (Asia, Europe, North America, or South America) and previous treatment status (previous adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy, or no prior therapy).

Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary end point; this was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented radiographic evidence of progressive disease according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria or death from any cause within 18 weeks after the last assessment of tumors. Secondary end points were overall survival (OS), investigator-assessed PFS, the rate of objective response, and safety.

Patient Population
The study enrolled 808 patients with documented locally recurrent, unresectable, or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2 status was determined centrally by means of immunohistochemistry or fluorescence in situ hybridization testing. Patients with measurable or nonmeasurable disease were eligible for the study.

Both treatment groups had comparable demographic and disease characteristics. The median age was 54 years, approximately 32% were Asian, ap­proxi­mately 59% were white, approximately 3% were black, and approximately 5% were other races. Geographic distribution in both arms was similar; approximately 31% were from Asia, 38% from Europe, 17% from North America, and 14% were from South America.

Table 1
Selected Baseline Characteristics of the ITT Population of CLEOPATRA.
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Visceral metastases were present in approximately 78% of patients (Table 1). Approximately 48% were ER- or PR-positive, or both; approximately 50% were ER- and PR-negative; and the hormone receptor status of ap­proxi­mately 2% was unknown. Ap­proxi­­mately 47% received previous adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment, with approximately 40% receiving anthracycline; 25%, hormone therapy; 23%, a taxane; and 11%, trastuzumab.

Table 2
Efficacy in the Randomized Pertuzumab Trial.
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Efficacy
The PFS was significantly improved in the pertuzumab/trastuzumab/doce­taxel arm (N = 402) versus the control arm using placebo plus trastuzumab and docetaxel (N = 406). The results of this trial are shown in Table 2. The median, independently assessed PFS was 12.4 months in the control arm versus 18.5 months in the pertuzu­mab-containing treatment arm, a difference of 6.1 months in favor of the addition of pertuzumab (P <.001). The improvement in PFS with pertuzumab was observed across all predefined subgroups.

In 88 patients who were previously treated with adjuvant or neoadjuvant trastuzumab therapy, the median PFS was 16.9 months in the pertuzumab arm (vs 10.4 months in the control arm); among 288 patients previously treated without trastuzu­mab, median PFS was 21.6 months in the pertuzumab arm versus 12.6 months in the controls.

An interim analysis of OS was performed after 165 events occurred; 96 deaths were reported in the control group versus 69 in the pertuzumab arm, a difference that did not meet the prespecified boundary for statistical significance. At a median follow-up of 19.3 months, a strong trend was observed toward a survival benefit with the pertuzumab combination. Both groups were followed up for a median of 19.3 months.

The objective response rate was 69.3% in the control arm versus 80.2% in the pertuzumab arm.

Safety Profile
Pertuzumab did not appear to add appreciable toxicity to trastuzumab plus docetaxel. The safety profile was generally similar in the 2 treatment arms. No increase in left ventricular systolic dysfunction was observed when pertuzumab was included in the treatment. Adverse events that were at least 5% higher in the pertuzumab arm than in the controls included diarrhea, rash, mucosal inflammation, febrile neutropenia (FN), and dry skin.

The rates of grade 3 or 4 FN were higher in the pertuzumab arm than in the control arm (13.0% vs 7.3%, respectively). The incidence of grade 3 or higher FN among Asian patients was 12% for controls and 26% for the pertuzumab arm; in patients from all other geographic regions, the rate of FN was ≤10% in both treatment arms.

Table 3
Adverse Reactions in ?13.5% (and any Grade 3/4 Reactions) in Patients Recieving Pertuzumab versus Placebo.
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Most of the deaths were a result of disease progression. The number and causes of other deaths were generally well balanced between the 2 arms. Infections were the most common cause of death resulting from an adverse event. Table 3 lists adverse events in 13.5% or more of patients receiving pertuzumab.

Dosing

The recommended initial dose of pertuzumab is 840 mg, given as a 60-minute intravenous (IV) infusion, followed every 3 weeks by an IV infusion of 420 mg given over 30 to 90 minutes.

When trastuzumab is given along with pertuzumab, the recommended initial dose of trastuzumab is 8 mg/kg given as a 90-minute IV infusion, followed every 3 weeks by an IV infusion of 6 mg/kg over 30 to 90 minutes.

When docetaxel is given along with pertuzumab, the recommended initial dose is an IV infusion of 75 mg/m2. If the initial dose is well tolerated, the dose of docetaxel may be escalated to 100 mg/m2, given every 3 weeks.

Dose Modification

If the dose of pertuzumab is delayed or missed, and the time between 2 sequential infusions is less than 6 weeks, the 420-mg infusion should be used. Waiting until the next planned dose is not recommended. If the time between 2 sequential infusions is 6 weeks or longer, the initial 840-mg infusion should be readministered as a 60-minute infusion, followed every 3 weeks by an infusion of 420 mg over a 30- to 60-minute period. The rate of infusion may be slowed or interrupted if a patient experiences an infusion-related reaction. Discontinue the infusion immediately for any serious hypersensitivity reactions.

If a patient experiences a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to <40% or an LVEF of 40% to 45%, with a ≥10% absolute decrease below baseline values, pertuzumab plus trastuzumab should be withheld for at least 3 weeks. If the LVEF recovers to >45%, or to 40% to 45% associated with an absolute decrease of <10% pretreatment values, pertuzumab may be resumed.

Contraindications, Warnings, and Precautions

There are no absolute contraindications to pertuzumab. Pertuzumab should not be taken during pregnancy, because the drug can cause birth de­fects and possible embryo-fetal death. Before the initiation of pertuzumab, patients should be assessed for pregnancy and should be advised to use contraception during and after treatment with pertuzumab. Women who are inadvertently exposed to pertu­zum­ab during pregnancy should consult the Genentech Adverse Event Line at 1-888-835-2555, and are encouraged to enroll in the MotHER Preg­nancy Registry, by contacting 1-800-690-6720.

Although trastuzumab treatment has been reported to lead to decreased LVEF, pertuzumab does not appear to have additive harmful effects on LVEF. When pertuzumab was used in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel in the CLEOPATRA trial, left ventricular dysfunction was seen in 4.4% versus 8.3% of patients in the placebo arm (ie, placebo plus trastuzumab plus docetaxel); and congestive heart failure was reported in 1% versus 1.8% of patients, respectively. Risk factors for decreased LVEF include previous exposure to anthracyclines or previous radiation to the chest wall.

Pertuzumab has not been studied in patients with suboptimal pretreatment LVEF values or other conditions associated with impaired LVEF, which include uncontrolled hypertension, recent myocardial infarction, serious cardiac arrhythmia, or a cumulative previous exposure to >360 mg/m2 doxorubicin or its equivalent. In patients who are taking pertuzumab, LVEF should be monitored at baseline and then every 3 months to ensure that the LVEF is within normal limits.

Infusion and hypersensitivity reactions can occur during treatment with pertuzumab. In the CLEOPATRA trial, hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis reactions occurred in 10.8% of patients in the pertuzumab arm versus in 9.1% of those in the placebo arm. Grades 3 and 4 hypersensitivity or anaphylactic reactions were reported in 2% versus 2.5% of patients, respectively.

Conclusion

The FDA approval of pertuzumab for women with HER2 metastatic breast cancer provides a novel therapeutic option, with a new mechanism of action and improved duration of PFS, a welcome addition for this patient population.

References

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