Mano, Max S.

By 2045, more than three quarters of global cancer deaths are projected to occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, the global availability of cancer care remains constrained by high costs and inequitable access. Value-based frameworks that integrate clinical benefit with affordability, feasibility, and equity are essential to better guide research prioritization, resource allocation, and regulatory policies in LMICs. A key component of a value-based approach is the generation of high-quality, locally relevant data to support evidence-based implementation of cancer prevention and control strategies. Herein, we provide three contemporary examples from JCO Global Oncology which demonstrate how economic evaluation in cancer research can address locally relevant, health system–specific questions.

TPS1136 Background: Hsp90 is a molecular chaperone protein required for the stabilization and activation of many proteins, referred to as Hsp90 ‘clients’, including those commonly implicated in breast tumorigenesis such as HER2, EGFR, ER, PI3K, AKT, P53 and VEGFR. Ganetespib is a novel triazolone inhibitor of Hsp90 being studied in over 20 clinical trials, with over 700 patients treated to date. Ganetespib is ~50x more potent than 1st-generation Hsp90 inhibitors, and has been well tolerated in clinical trials with a favorable safety profile. Mild to moderate, transient diarrhea is the most common adverse event associated with ganetespib infusion and is manageable with appropriate supportive care. Ganetespib has shown activity in preclinical models of HER2+, ER+/PR+ and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). In a phase I trial, ganetespib demonstrated single-agent clinical activity in HER2+ disease with an objective response rate (ORR) of 15% and a disease stabilization rate of 46% in heavily pretreated patients. This efficacy-screening study is designed to provide further evidence of ganetespib activity and identify potentially predictive biomarkers in metastatic breast cancer. Methods: The ENCHANT-1 trial is an international, first-line Phase II study in two cohorts of breast cancer patients: Cohort A, HER2 amplified (n=35), and Cohort B, TNBC (n=35). HER2+ patients must have received prior anti-HER2 therapy in the adjuvant setting. Patients are treated with ganetespib at 150 mg/m2 twice weekly on a three out of four-week regimen. Primary endpoint: ORR assessed using RECIST1.1 criteria. Key secondary endpoints include metabolic effects as assessed by PET/CT at week 3. Tumor genetic signature and proteomic profiling are performed on patient’s tumors in an effort to develop biomarkers of response. At the time of submission 6 patients have been enrolled into this study. Clinical trial information: NCT01677455.