Back to Authors

Vaklavas, Christos

0000-0002-9919-2748

Mayo Clinic

Huntsman Cancer Institute

Citations 24

Cemiplimab and Fianlimab With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Early-Stage High-Risk ERBB2 -Negative Breast Cancer
Isaacs, Claudine, Nanda, Rita, Yau, C, Chien, A. Jo, Hershman, Dawn L., Stringer-Reasor, Erica M., Wallace, Anne M., Clark, Amy S., Kennedy, Laura C., Sanford, Amy, Boughey, JC , Albain, Kathy S. , Pusztai, Lajos, Kalinsky, Kevin M., Beckwith, Heather, Williams, Nicole O., Han, Hyo S., Falkson, Carla, Arora, Mili, Pohlmann, Paula R., Rozenblit, Mariya, Marshall, Natalie, Chen, Yunn-Yi, McGuinness, Julia E., Howard, Frederick M., Chen, Nan, Khoury, Katia, Lancaster, Rachael, Douglas, Emily, Wei, Mei, Mainor, Candace, LeStage, Barbara, Matthews, Jeffrey B. , Perlmutter, J, Symmans, W. Fraser, Yee, Douglas, Hylton, Nola M., Veer, Laura van ‘t , Rugo, Hope S., Berry, Donald A., Esserman, Laura J., Isaacs, Claudine , Yau, Christina , Chien, A. Jo , Hershman, Dawn L. , Stringer-Reasor, Erica , Thomas, Alexandra , Vaklavas, Christos , Clark, Amy S. , Kennedy, Laura Carpin , Pusztai, Lajos , Kalinsky, Kevin M. , Beckwith, Heather , Han, Hyo S , Falkson, Carla I. , Arora, Mili, Elias, Anthony , Pohlmann, Paula R. , Rozenblit, Mariya , Trivedi, Meghna S. , McGuinness, Julia Elizabeth , Howard, F , Khoury, Katia , Yeung, Kay T. , Douglas, Emily, Mainor, Candace , LeStage, Barbara , Delson, Amy , Asare, Adam L. , Swigart, Lamorna Brown , Hirst, Gillian L. , Symmans, W. Fraser , Yee, Douglas , Veer, Laura J. van’t , Rugo, Hope S. , DeMichele, Angela , Berry, Donald A., Esserman, Laura J.

JAMA Oncology | July 30, 2026 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: No page available

10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.2576 Get It

Importance Although adding immune checkpoint inhibitors to neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves outcomes in high-risk early-stage breast cancer, opportunities remain to further enhance response. Dual checkpoint blockade offers a potential strategy to further enhance efficacy. Objective To evaluate the combination of anti−programmed cell death 1 protein (PD-1) cemiplimab and anti−lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) added to neoadjuvant therapy in ERBB2 -negative early-stage, high-risk breast cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants The I-SPY2 (Investigation of Serial Studies to Predict Your Therapeutic Response With Imaging and Molecular Analysis 2) is an ongoing randomized clinical platform trial being conducted at multiple US clinical sites including patients with early-stage (II or III) ERBB2 -negative, high-risk breast cancer. Participants, continuously enrolled since 2010, were adaptively randomized from February 2, 2020, to December 9, 2021, to one of several experimental neoadjuvant therapies or control groups based on receptor subtypes defined by hormone receptor (HR), ERBB2 status, and MammaPrint (Agendia Inc) molecular risk, categorized as high (MP1) or ultrahigh (MP2). Data were analyzed from January 1, 2022, to August 5, 2025. Interventions Both groups received weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks, then doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by surgery; concomitant with paclitaxel, the intervention group also received 4 doses of cemiplimab and fianlimab (PCF) every 3 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures Pathologic complete response (pCR). Treatments graduated when they achieved 85% bayesian probability of success in a subtype-specific phase 3 trial. Pathway-specific biomarkers were assessed for response prediction. Results A total of 78 participants (mean [SD] age, 47 [39-54] years) were randomized to the intervention group, with 350 participants (mean [SD] age, 48 [39-57] years) randomized to the historical control population. PCF graduated in all clinical signatures, with pCR rates vs control of 44% (95% CI, 34%-53%) vs 21% (95% CI, 17%-25%) in all ERBB2 , 53% (95% CI, 39%-67%) vs 29% (95% CI, 22%-36%) in triple-negative, and 36% (95% CI, 23%-49%) vs 14% (95% CI, 9%-19%) in HR-positive and ERBB2 -negative disease. Among the total participants, 16 (21%) experienced adrenal insufficiency, including hypophysitis (11% grade 3 or 4), mostly occurring after immunotherapy completion. PCF was found to be highly effective in the subset of patients with immune signature positive status (ImPrint positive). Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, the combination of PD-1 and anti−LAG-3 inhibition with standard NAC was effective in early-stage ERBB2 -negative breast cancer, particularly in patients displaying a positive ImPrint immune signature. These results warrant further definitive trials. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01042379
Abstract PS4-02-01: Differential early response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in lobular versus non-lobular breast cancer on the Endocrine Optimization Pilot (EOP) of the I-SPY2 Trial
Mukhtar, R., Norwood, P., Borowsky, A., Alkhafaji, S., Giridhar, K. V., Elias, A., Wei, M., Goetz, M. P., Olopade, O. I., Veer, L. J. van 't, Huppert, L. A., Symmans, W. F., Swigart, L. Brown, Wu, C., Yau, C., Yee, Don, Magbanua, M. J., Price, E., Hylton, N., Esserman, L. J., Chien, J., Norwood, Peter, Borowsky, A., Alkhafaji, Silver , Vaklavas, Christos , Elias, A., Goetz, Matthew P. , Onishi, Natsuko , Symmans, W. Fraser , Swigart, Lamorna Brown , Wu, C., Yau, C., Yee, D., Magbanua, MJM, Hylton, N. M.

Clinical Cancer Research | February 17, 2026 | Volume: 32 | Issue: 4_Supplement | Pages: PS4-02-01-PS4-02-01

10.1158/1557-3265.sabcs25-ps4-02-01 Get It

Abstract Background Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) differs from invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) in its estrogen receptor (ER) signaling pathways, response to systemic therapy, and imaging features. We evaluated differences in early change in the proliferation marker Ki67 and features on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after novel endocrine based neoadjuvant therapy in lobular versus non-lobular cases on the I-SPY2 EOP Trial. Methods EOP is a prospective, randomized NET trial enriched for patients with ILC. Patients with stage II-III ER positive HER2 negative breast cancer with low molecular risk (Mammaprint low or Mammaprint Hi1 plus high Sensitivity to Endocrine therapy Index) were randomized to one of several endocrine therapy-based arms. Treatment arms include novel oral SERDS with or without CDK4/6 inhibitor, aromatase inhibitors, and SERMs with or without ovarian function suppression in pre-menopausal patients. Patients undergo repeat core needle biopsy with central Ki67 assessment after 3 weeks of treatment and serial breast MRI. Here, we compare endocrine therapy responsiveness as measured by change in Ki67 at 3 weeks and functional tumor volume (FTV) on pre-surgical MRI in lobular versus non-lobular cases. Results We evaluated 253 patients of whom 148 (58.5%) had non-lobular cancer (93.9% IDC), and 105 (41.5%) had lobular cancer (17.1% mixed ILC/IDC). Overall, mean age was 53.3 years, 63.8% of tumors were grade 2, and 86.5% were Mammaprint (MP) Low with the remaining being Hi1, with higher rates of MP Low in the lobular versus non-lobular cohorts (92.4% versus 83.4%, p=0.0358). At baseline, tumors in the lobular cohort had significantly lower mean Ki67 than those in the non-lobular cohort (11.2% [SD 12.8] versus 16.4% [SD 14.4%], p=0.0038). Consistent with this, the proportion with baseline tumor Ki67 <10% was significantly higher in the lobular cohort than the ductal cohort (60.4% versus 39.3%, p=0.001). At 3-week biopsy, mean Ki67 remained lower in the lobular versus non-lobular group (3.4% versus 5.4%, respectively, p=0.0415). The proportion of patients with Ki67 <10% at 3 weeks did not differ significantly between lobular and non-lobular cases (88.6% versus 79.7%, respectively, p=0.08). Among the 40 lobular cases and 88 non-lobular cases with baseline Ki67 ≥10%, week 3 Ki67 decreased to <10% in 90% of lobular cases and 72.7% of non-lobular cases (p=0.07). On MRI, mean FTV at baseline was similar among lobular and non-lobular cases (21 cc3 versus 16.3 cc3). On pre-surgical MRI, patients in the lobular cohort had significantly higher mean residual FTV than those in the non-lobular cohort (5.7 cc3 versus 3.8 cc3, p=0.034). Interestingly, when splitting the lobular cohort into mixed lobular and pure lobular, mean residual MRI FTV was 7.5 cc3 in mixed cases and 3.8 cc3 in pure lobular cases, reflecting that FTV decreased the least in mixed lobular cases (decrease of 51.1% in mixed cases, 69.7% in pure lobular cases, and 73.9% in non-lobular cases, p=0.0255). Conclusions These results highlight differences in lobular versus non-lobular breast cancer. Lobular cases had lower baseline Ki67, and similar rates of decrease in Ki67 after 3 weeks of NET than non-lobular cases. Despite this, mean FTV after completion of 6 months of NET was higher in lobular tumors. These findings may reflect differences in early versus late indicators of response to NET, or differential response patterns by histology. Alternatively, standard response measures such as Ki67 and FTV may need lobular-specific modifications. Ongoing work includes central assessment of Ki67 from surgical specimens, analysis of changes in gene expression signatures, and evaluation of surgical outcomes such as breast conservation rates by histologic subtype. Citation Format: R. Mukhtar, P. Norwood, A. Borowsky, S. Alkhafaji, K. Giridhar, C. Vaklavas, A. Elias, M. Wei, M. Goetz, N. Onishi, O. Olopade, L. Van 't Veer, L. Huppert, W. F. Symmans, L. Brown Swigart, C. Wu, C. Yau, D. Yee, M. Magbanua, E. Price, N. Hylton, L. Esserman, J. Chien. Differential early response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in lobular versus non-lobular breast cancer on the Endocrine Optimization Pilot (EOP) of the I-SPY2 Trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS4-02-01.
Abstract PD10-02: I- SPY2 Endocrine Optimization Pilot (EOP): Neoadjuvant vepdegestrant monotherapy or in combination with letrozole or abemaciclib in molecularly selected patients with stage 2/3 HR+ HER2-negative breast cancer (BC)
Chien, J., Mukhtar, R. M., Yau, C., Elias, A. D., Wallace, A. M., Chan, Nymph , Omene, Coral , Chen, N., Tseng, J., Trivedi, M. S., Stringer-Reasor, E., Yee, Don, Clark, A. S., Thomas, A., Han, H. S., Arora, Mukesh K., Nangia, C., Albain, K. S., Falkson, C., Isaacs, C, Rozenblit, M., Veer, L. J. van't, Swigart, L. Brown, Hirst, G., Symmans, W. F., Borowsky, A. D., Hylton, N., Alkhafaji, S., Giridhar, K. V., Wei, M., Goetz, M. P., Olopade, O. I., Huppert, L. A., Wu, C., Esserman, L. J., Mukhtar, R., Elias, A., Wallace, A.M., Chan, N., Stringer-Reasor, Erica , Yee, D., Thomas, A., Han, HS, Falkson, Carla I. , Zimmer, Alexandra S. , Swigart, Lamorna Brown , Hirst, G. L., Symmans, W. Fraser , Onishi, Natsuko , Hylton, N. M., Alkhafaji, Silver , Vaklavas, Christos , Esserman, L. J.

Clinical Cancer Research | February 17, 2026 | Volume: 32 | Issue: 4_Supplement | Pages: PD10-02-PD10-02

10.1158/1557-3265.sabcs25-pd10-02 Get It

Abstract BACKGROUND: EOP is an I-SPY2 sub-study designed to test novel endocrine-based strategies in patients (pts) predicted to have modest benefit from chemotherapy. Vepdegestrant is a selective oral PROTAC estrogen receptor (ER) degrader that has demonstrated efficacy in mutant ER+ HER2-negative MBC. METHODS: EOP eligibility included pts with Stage 2/3 HR+ HER2-negative, MammaPrint (MP) Low Risk BC. Patients with MP High1 signatures were eligible if clinically node-negative or SET 2,3 High. Pts were randomized to one of 3 oral treatment (tx) arms: vepdegestrant 200 mg/d (V), vepdegestrant 200 mg/d +letrozole (VL), vepdegestrant 200 mg/d + abemaciclib 150 mg bid (VA). Pts received tx for six 28-day cycles followed by surgery. Premenopausal (PreMN) pts received ovarian function suppression (OFS) starting C1D1 in the VL arm, and C2D1 in the V and VA arms. The primary endpoint was feasibility, defined as >75% of pts completing >75% of study therapy. Breast MRI functional tumor volume (FTV) and ctDNA (tumor-informed assay) were assessed at baseline (T0), 3 weeks (T1), 12 weeks (T2), and 6 months (T3). Ki67 and ER/PR by IHC were centrally assessed from tumor biopsies at T0, T1, and the surgical specimen. Results: Between 4/2023 and 1/2025, 121 pts were enrolled: 40 in V, 41 in VL, and 40 in VA. Median age was 54 years, 50% preMN. 60% of pts had ductal, 35% lobular, 5% mixed histology. 55% were cN+, and 59% were not breast conservation surgery (BCS) candidates at baseline. Mean baseline Ki67 was 12.5%, 85.1% had MP Low Risk signature, 79.3% were SET 2,3 High. All 3 tx arms met the primary endpoint with 88%, 88%, and 83% completing > 75% study therapy in V, VL, and VA (thus far), respectively. Most common all grade (AG) TRAEs in V and VL arms include fatigue (53% V, 71% VL), hot flashes (48% V, 71% VL), arthralgias (33% V, 49% VL), all G1 or G2 except for 1 G3 fatigue in VL arm. G2 and G3 neutropenia was seen in 1 pt each in V and VL arms. The most common AG TRAEs in VA include diarrhea (80%), fatigue (65%), nausea (58%), hot flashes (50%), neutropenia (43%). High grade TRAEs in VA include neutropenia (23% G3, 5% G4), ovarian cyst requiring surgery (5% G3), diarrhea (15% G3), nausea (3% G3), transaminitis (3% G3), thromboembolic event (8% G3), acute kidney injury (3% G3). Table 1 summarizes key response endpoints by tx arm. CONCLUSION: Six months of neoadjuvant vepdegestrant, alone or in combination with letrozole or abemaciclib, is feasible and demonstrates robust ER/PR degradation. Encouraging anti-tumor activity through reduction of Ki67 and MRI FTV, ctDNA clearance, and achievement of BCS was seen in pre- and postMN women. The neoadjuvant setting provides a rich platform to identify the dynamic range of response and non-response using a multi-modal approach and can be leveraged to inform future trial design and adjuvant therapy. Citation Format: J. Chien, R. M. Mukhtar, C. Yau, A. D. Elias, A. M. Wallace, N. Chan, C. Omene, N. Chen, J. Tseng, M. S. Trivedi, E. Stringer-Reasor, D. Yee, A. S. Clark, A. Thomas, H. Han, M. Arora, C. Nangia, K. Albain, C. Falkson, C. Isaacs, A. Zimmer, M. Rozenblit, L. van't Veer, L. Brown Swigart, G. Hirst, W. Symmans, A. D. Borowsky, N. Onishi, N. Hylton, S. Alkhafaji, K. V. Giridhar, C. Vaklavas, M. Wei, M. P. Goetz, O. Olopade, L. Huppert, C. Wu, L. J. Esserman. I- SPY2 Endocrine Optimization Pilot (EOP): Neoadjuvant vepdegestrant monotherapy or in combination with letrozole or abemaciclib in molecularly selected patients with stage 2/3 HR+ HER2-negative breast cancer (BC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD10-02.
Immune Subtyping Identifies Patients With Hormone Receptor–Positive Early-Stage Breast Cancer Who Respond to Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy (IO): Results From Five IO Arms of the I-SPY2 Trial
Wolf, Denise M. , Yau, Christina , Glas, Annuska M. , Barcaru, Andrei, Kuilman, Midas M. , Swigart, Lamorna Brown , Hirst, Gillian L. , Basu, A. , Magbanua, Mark Jesus M. , Sayaman, Rosalyn W. , Huppert, Laura A. , Investigators, I-SPY2, Borowsky, Alexander D. , Pohlmann, Paula R. , Clark, Amy S. , Yee, Douglas , Perlmutter, Jane , Petricoin, Emanuel F. , Chien, A. Jo , Stringer-Reasor, Erica , Liu, Minetta C. , Nanda, Rita , Veer, Laura van ‘t , Melisko, Michelle , Albain, Kathy S. , Robinson, Patricia A. , Lo, Simon S. , Potter, David J. , Beckwith, Heather , Haddad, Tufia C. , Kemmer, Kathleen, Lu, Janice , Williams, Nicole , Ellis, Erin D. , Sanford, Amy, Sanft, Tara, Viscusi, Rebecca K., Arora, Mili, Northfelt, Donald W. , Haley, Barbara , Yung, Rachel L. , Mayer, Ingrid, Khan, Qamar J. , Edmiston, Kirsten K., Glas, Annuska , Mittempergher, Lorenza , Brown-Swigart, Lamorna , Hirst, Gillian L , Basu, Amrita , Magbanua, Mark J M , Sayaman, Rosalyn , Huppert, Laura , Delson, Amy , Symmans, W Fraser , Pohlmann, Paula , Rugo, Hope S , Clark, Amy S , Yee, Douglas , DeMichele, Angela , Petricoin, Emmanuel F , Chien, Jo , Stringer-Reasor, Erica , Shatsky, Rebecca , Liu, Minetta , Soliman, Hatem Hussein , Isaacs, Claudine , Nanda, Rita , Hylton, Nola M. , Pusztai, Lajos , Esserman, Laura J , Veer, Laura J. van’t , Campbell, Michael, Investigators, I-SPY2, Symmans, W. Fraser , Rugo, Hope S. , DeMichele, Angela , Shatsky, Rebecca , Han, Hyo S , Isaacs, Claudine , Pusztai, Lajos , Esserman, Laura J. , Mukhtar, Rita A. , Wallace, Anne M. , Yeung, Kay T. , Olopade, Olufunmilayo I. , Potter, David, Blaes, Anne , Boughey, Judy C. , Elias, Anthony , Mitri, Zahi Ibrahim , Lang, Julie E. , Thomas, Alexandra , Trivedi, Meghna S. , Hershman, Dawn L. , Meisel, Jane Lowe , Kalinsky, Kevin M. , Vaklavas, Christos , Sanft, Tara , Arora, Mili, Falkson, Carla I. , Murthy, Rashmi Krishna

JCO Precision Oncology | June 17, 2025 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: 9 | Pages: No page available

10.1200/po-24-00776 Get It

PURPOSE Neoadjuvant immunotherapy (IO) has become the standard of care for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), but not yet for other subtypes. We previously developed a clinical-grade mRNA-based immune classifier (ImPrint) predicting response to IO that is now being used in I-SPY2.2 as part of the response predictive subtypes. We report the performance of ImPrint in hormone receptor–positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HR+HER2–) patients from five IO arms. METHODS A total of 204 HR+HER2– (MammaPrint high-risk) patients from five IO arms (anti–PD-1, anti–PD-L1/poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase inhibitor combination, anti–PD-1/toll-like receptor 9 dual-IO combination, and anti–PD-1 ± lymphocyte activation gene 3 dual-IO combination) and 191 patients from the chemotherapy-only control arm were included in this analysis. Patients were classified as ImPrint+ (likely sensitive) versus ImPrint– (likely resistant), using pretreatment mRNA. Performance of ImPrint for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) to IO-containing arms was characterized and compared with tumor grade (III), MammaPrint (ultra) High2 risk (MP2), and estrogen receptor (ER)-low (ER ≤ 10%). RESULTS Overall, the pCR rate across the five IO arms was 33%. 26% of HR+HER2– patients were ImPrint+, and pCR rates with IO were 75% in ImPrint+ versus 17% in ImPrint–, with the highest pCR rate >90% in a dual-IO arm. In the control arm, pCR rates were 33% in ImPrint+ and 8% in ImPrint–. Tumor grade (III), MP2, and ER-low showed pCR rates in IO of 45%, 56%, and 63%, respectively, with lower pCR odds ratios (OR < 7.5) compared with ImPrint (OR = 14.5). CONCLUSION Using an accurate selection strategy, HR+HER2– patients could achieve pCR rates similar to what is seen with best neoadjuvant therapies in TNBC and HER2+ (ie, pCR rate >65%-70%). ImPrint, an Food and Drug Administration IDE-enabled assay, may represent a way to identify HR+HER2– patients for IO that best balances likely benefit versus risk of serious immune-related adverse events.
Serum estradiol (sE2) levels in premenopausal (PreM) women receiving neoadjuvant ovarian function suppression (OFS) with the oral SERD amcenestrant, alone, or in combination with letrozole or abemaciclib in the I-SPY2 Endocrine Optimization Pilot (EOP).
Chien, Jo, Norwood, Peter, Wei, Mei , Chen, Nan , Borowsky, Alexander D. , Melisko, Michelle , Mukhtar, Rita A. , Giridhar, Karthik V. , Goetz, Matthew P. , Vaklavas, Christos , Elias, Anthony , Rugo, Hope S. , Swigart, Lamorna Brown , Shatsky, Rebecca , Huppert, Laura Ann , Esserman, Laura J.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 604-604

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.604 Get It

604 Background: The addition of OFS to standard endocrine therapy (ET) improves iDFS for preM women with early-stage hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC). Incomplete OFS occurs in a subset of women, the long-term clinical significance of which is unclear. This study evaluates local sE2 levels in preM women receiving OFS with an oral SERD in the neoadjuvant (NA) setting. Methods: The EOP is a I-SPY2 sub-study investigating NA endocrine-based strategies in pts with HR+ HER2- Stage 2/3 BC predicted to have lower benefit from chemotherapy. Pts were randomized to oral amcenestrant 200 mg/d, alone or in combination with either letrozole 2.5 mg/d or abemaciclib 150 mg bid. Additional pts were randomized to a standard of care (SOC) arm consisting of an aromatase inhibitor. All PreM pts received OFS with monthly GnRHa up to 2 wks prior to C1D1 of study therapy. Pts were treated for 6 months prior to surgery. sE2 levels were collected locally prior to each GnRHa injection. Tumor Ki67 was assessed at 3 weeks and surgery, and associated with sE2 level. Statistical significance was determined using a two-sided Student’s t-test and a significance level 0.05. Results: Between 5/2021-8/2022, 74 pts were enrolled to an amcenestrant containing arm, 40 of whom were preM. 38/40 pts had at least one local sE2 level measured in follow up. Of these 38 pts (median age 45 years), 37 suppressed sE2 into the postmenopausal (postM) range at one or more follow-up timepoints. Of the 37 pts that completely suppressed into the postM range, 6 pts had sE2 levels rebound into the preM range (mean 319 pg/mL, range 20-848 pg/mL) with peak sE2 levels occurring at a median of 12 weeks from C1D1. One pt never suppressed to the postM range (peak sE2 1227 pg/mL) and was found to have an ovarian cyst after 3 months on amcenestrant, requiring surgery. One additional pt had multiple ovarian cysts (sE2 84 pg/mL). Median age of the 7 pts who had sE2 rebound was 43 years. There was no significant difference in Ki67 at 3 weeks and surgery between pts whose sE2 levels remained suppressed (median Ki67 2.0%) compared to those whose estradiol rebounded into the preM range or never suppressed (median Ki67 1.5%). In the 5 pts whose sE2 rebounded to > 200 pg/mL, all pts had tumor Ki67 < 10% at 3 weeks and surgery. Between 12/2022 and 8/2023, 20 pts were enrolled to AI +/- OFS and 11 pts were preM. Of the 11 preM pts, all pts suppressed sE2 to the postM range. No SOC patients had sE2 levels rebound into the preM range. Conclusions: In this study of neoadjuvant oral SERD with monthly OFS, 7/38 (18.4%) preM pts had sE2 levels remain or rebound into the preM range. sE2 levels did not appear to impact Ki67 suppression on NA ET. Work up for ovarian cysts should be considered in pts with symptoms, or significantly elevated or persistent sE2 levels. Clinical trial information: NCT01042379 .
I-SPY2 endocrine optimization pilot (EOP): Neoadjuvant lasofoxifene (Laso) in molecularly selected patients with hormone receptor positive (HR+)/HER2 negative (HER2-) stage 2/3 breast cancer (BC).
Wei, Mei , Veer, Laura van ‘t , Alkhafaji, Silver , Hirst, Gillian L. , Chen, Nan , Borowsky, Alexander D. , Chien, Jo, Hirst, Gillian L , Elias, Anthony , Giridhar, Karthik V. , Goetz, Matthew P. , Mukhtar, Rita A. , Vaklavas, Christos , Veer, Laura J. van’t , Rugo, Hope S. , Symmans, W. Fraser , Swigart, Lamorna Brown , Onishi, Natsuko , Yee, Douglas , Hylton, Nola M. , Esserman, Laura J.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 612-612

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.612 Get It

612 Background: EOP, an I-SPY2 sub-study, evaluates the tolerability and activity of novel endocrine strategies in stage 2/3 breast cancer (BC) patients (pts) predicted to have lower chemotherapy benefit. Laso, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), has shown favorable toxicity profile and activity in HR+/HER2- endocrine-resistant metastatic BC. Methods: Pts with Stage 2/3 HR+/HER2-, MammaPrint (MP) low risk BC were enrolled. Pts with MP High1 BC were included if clinically node-negative. Pts received oral laso 5 mg daily for six 28-day cycles. Laso was continued until the day prior to surgery. Premenopausal pts received ovarian function suppression (OFS) starting C2D1. The primary endpoint was feasibility (>75% of patients completing >75% study therapy). Baseline (T0), 3-wk (T1) biopsies, and the surgical specimen (T3) was assessed centrally for Ki-67. Breast MRI functional tumor volume (FTV) was performed at T0, T1, 12 weeks (T2), and pre-operatively (T3). Blood was collected for tumor informed ctDNA at T0, T1, T2, T3. Advance event (AE) was assessed using CTCAE V5. Results: From 3/2023 to 5/2024, 20 pts were enrolled. Median age 50.5 years, 50% premenopausal, and 1 male pt. 60% cN0, 80% MP low-risk signature. 18 (90%) pts completed >75% study therapy. Two pts discontinued treatment due to pt preference. Median Ki67 at T0 was 14.7%. At T1, 87.5% of pts remained or suppressed Ki67 to <10% and 37.5% suppressed to <2.7%. Ki67 at T1 was similar between pre-and postmenopausal pts despite OFS (Table). The median MRI FTV was 8.4 cc at T0, and 3.4 cc at T3. Median % FTV reduction from T0 to T3 was -47.5%. 2/20 pts (10%) achieved a modified PEPI score of 0. No patients achieved completed pathological response. Of the 16 pts with RCB results, 2 (12.5%) RCB-1, 6 (37.5%) RCB-2, 8 (50%) RCB-3 disease. 14 pts had ctDNA available at T0. 4/14 were ctDNA+ at T0, 2 of whom became ctDNA negative, and 2 remained ctDNA+. 10/14 pts were ctDNA negative at T0, 8 of whom remained negative, 2 became positive at T1 then cleared. All AEs were grade(G) 1 except 1 pt with G2 hot flashes. Most common AEs include hot flashes (85%), constipation (50%), fatigue (50%), and nausea (35%). One pt had G3 hypersensitivity and hypertension, both unrelated to therapy. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant laso demonstrates a favorable AE profile and promising anti-tumor activity in suppressing 3-wk Ki67 and MRI FTV change in pts with HR+ HER2-negative early BC. Ki67 suppression in premenopausal pts was seen in the absence of OFS. Clinical trial information: NCT01042379 . Ki67 expression at pre-treatment, and 3-wk time point. All Patients(n=20) Premenopausal (n=10) Postmenopausal (n=9) Median Ki67 expression Baseline 10.0% 12.5% 10.0% 3-wk 5.1% 3.0% 6.0% Number of pts with Ki67 expression <10% at 3-wk 87.5% 1 87.5% 85.7% Number of pts with Ki67 expression <2.7% at 3-wk 37.5% 50% 28.6% 1 Include the one male pt.
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with stage 2/3 HR+HER2-negative breast cancer (BC) treated with neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) in the I-SPY2 endocrine optimization pilot (EOP) trial.
Alkhafaji, Silver , Magbanua, Mark Jesus M. , Veer, Laura van ‘t , Mukhtar, Rita, Wei, Mei , Hirst, Gillian L. , Borowsky, Alexander D. , Chien, Jo, Hirst, Gillian L , Veer, Laura J. van’t , Giridhar, Karthik V. , Goetz, Matthew P. , Vaklavas, Christos , Elias, Anthony , Rugo, Hope S. , Huppert, Laura Ann , Symmans, W. Fraser , Swigart, Lamorna Brown , Onishi, Natsuko , Yee, Douglas , Hylton, Nola M. , Esserman, Laura J.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 3008-3008

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.3008 Get It

3008 Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated the prognostic value of ctDNA analysis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage high-risk breast cancer. Few studies have characterized ctDNA in pts receiving NET for early-stage hormone receptor positive (HR+)/HER2- BC that is predicted to benefit less from chemotherapy. Methods: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was isolated from 432 plasma samples from 108 pts enrolled in the I-SPY2 EOP trial. Pts had Stage 2/3 HR+/HER2-, MammaPrint low or high risk 1 BC. Pts were randomized to one of 7 neoadjuvant-based treatment arms including arms containing AI, Z-endoxifen, Lasofoxifene, vepdegestrant (ARV-471), and Abemaciclib. Pts were treated for 6 months prior to surgery. Blood was collected at baseline (T0), 3 weeks (T1), 12 weeks (T2), and 6 months (T3). A personalized ctDNA test (Signatera) was designed to detect up to 16 patient-specific mutations (from whole-exome sequencing of pretreatment tumor) in cfDNA by ultra-deep sequencing. The chi-square test was used to assess associations between categorical variables, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to evaluate differences in medians. Results: ctDNA information was available for 101 patients at baseline (T0) (Table 1). At T0, 36 (35.6%) patients were ctDNA-positive. 23/36 (63.9%) became ctDNA-negative and 13/36 (36.1%) remained ctDNA-positive. At T0, 65/101 patients (64.4%) were ctDNA-negative. Of these, 57 (87.7%) remained negative, while 8 (12.3%) became ctDNA-positive at T1 before reverting to ctDNA-negative. A higher percentage of ctDNA-positive patients at T0 were cN+ compared to ctDNA-negative pts (p = 0.036, 64% vs. 40%). Additionally, ctDNA-positivity at T0 was strongly associated with higher Ki67 (p = 0.03) and larger functional tumor volume by MRI at baseline (p = 0.03). T3/T4 and high-grade tumors at baseline were also associated with having ctDNA positivity at baseline, though this was not statistically significant (p = 0.34 and 0.058, respectively). Conclusions: In this study of pts with Stage 2/3 HR+ HER2- BC with largely MammaPrint low risk signatures, over one-third of pts had detectable ctDNA at baseline. Detectable ctDNA at baseline was associated with cN+ disease, larger FTV, and high baseline Ki67. The majority of pts with positive ctDNA at baseline cleared the ctDNA on NET. Clinical trial information: NCT01042379 . Clinicopathologic characteristics of EOP patients. All Patients(N=101) Age at screening 55 (27-80) years* Clinical N Stage Node+ (cN+) 49 (48.5%) Node- (cN-) 52 (51.5%) SET status High 84 (83.2%) Low 14 (13.9%) Missing 3 (2.97%) MammaPrint (MP) risk** High risk 1 (H1) 15 (14.9%) Low risk 86 (85.1%) *Mean(min-max). **H1: MP score between 0 and -0.57; low: MP score between 0 and 0.355.
Multiplex Spatial Proteomic Analysis of HER2–Positive Breast Tumors Reveals Unique Molecular and Immunologic Features Associated With Treatment Response
Hennessy, Maeve , Cimino‐Mathews, Ashley , Carter, Jodi M. , Kachergus, Jennifer M., Ma, Yaohua , Leal, Jeffrey P. , Sólnes, Lilja B. , Denbow, Rita , Abramson, Vandana G. , Carey, Lisa A. , Rimawi, Mothaffar F. , Specht, Jennifer M. , Storniolo, Anna Maria , Valero, Vicente , Krop, Ian E. , Perez, Edith A. , Huang, Chiung‐Yu , Thompson, E. Aubrey, Connolly, Roisín M. , Hennessy, Maeve A , Rimawi, Mothaffar , Specht, Jennifer , Vaklavas, Christos , Winer, Eric , Krop, Ian E , Wolff, Antonio C , Wahl, Richard L , Huang, Chiung-Yu , Stearns, Vered , Connolly, Roisin M , Abramson, Vandana G , Carey, Lisa A , Carter, Jodi , Ma, Yaohua , Winer, Eric P. , Wolff, Antonio C. , Wahl, Richard L. , Stearns, Vered , Thompson, E. Aubrey

JCO Precision Oncology | April 3, 2025 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: 9 | Pages: No page available

10.1200/po-24-00546 Get It

PURPOSE Predictive biomarkers to better tailor therapy for patients with early-stage human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer are a priority. We hypothesized that HER2 and immune-based biomarkers would be predictive of pathologic complete response (pCR) to preoperative trastuzumab/pertuzumab (HP). MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with stage II/III, estrogen receptor (ER)-negative, HER2-positive breast cancer received neoadjuvant HP in the TBCRC026 clinical trial. The pCR after receiving HP alone was 22% (18/83). Tumor biopsies were performed at baseline. Secondary correlative objectives were to determine the relationship between HER2-based biomarkers and immune processes with pCR. NanoString code sets BC360 and IO360 were used to compare differential gene expression in baseline tumors that underwent pCR versus no pCR. NanoString GeoMx digital spatial profiling was used to assess immune protein abundance in intraepithelial and stromal segments. Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and Ki67 were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS Intraepithelial HER2 protein abundance was significantly associated with pCR ( P = .001). Low HER2 abundance tumors were primarily basal-like, and essentially all (19/20) failed to achieve pCR. High HER2 abundance tumors that achieved pCR (14/51) exhibited a high degree of immune cell activity, whereas high HER2 abundance tumors that failed to achieve pCR tumors (37/51) were enriched for M-phase processes and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. Baseline Ki67 was significantly higher in nonresponders ( P = .04). CONCLUSION ER-negative, HER2-positive breast cancer has unique molecular and immunologic features that may predict pCR after neoadjuvant HP. Validation of these potential biomarkers and composite biomarker analyses may guide design of future clinical trials.
I-SPY2 Endocrine Optimization Pilot (EOP): Neoadjuvant amcenestrant +/- abemaciclib +/- letrozole in molecularly selected patients (pts) with HR+ HER2- stage 2/3 breast cancer (BC).
Chien, A. Jo , Wei, Mei , Veer, Laura van 't, Alkhafaji, Silver , Chen, Nan , Borowsky, Alexander D. , Hylton, Nola, Mukhtar, Rita A. , Giridhar, Karthik V. , Olopade, Olufunmilayo I. , Kalinsky, Kevin M. , Vaklavas, Christos , Elias, Anthony , Goetz, Matthew P. , Rugo, Hope S. , Symmans, W. Fraser , Swigart, Lamorna Brown , Onishi, Natsuko , Yee, Douglas , Esserman, Laura J.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | July 11, 2024 | Volume: 42 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 601-601

10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.601 Get It

601 Background: EOP is an I-SPY2 neoadjuvant sub-study designed to test the tolerability and impact of novel endocrine-based strategies in stage 2/3 BC pts predicted to have lower benefit from chemotherapy. Amcenestrant (A) is an oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) with activity in hormone receptor positive (HR+) HER2- metastatic BC. Methods: EOP eligibility included pts screened for the main I-SPY2 trial with HR+ HER2-, MammaPrint (MP) low risk Stage 2/3 BC. Pts with MP High risk tumor signatures were eligible if clinically node-negative (cN-). Pts were stratified by SET index and menopausal status. Pts were randomized to 3 arms: A 200 mg qd (A), A + abemaciclib 150 mg bid (AA), A + letrozole 2.5 mg qd (AL). Premenopausal pts received concurrent ovarian function suppression. Treatment was for 6 mos followed by surgery. Baseline (BL) and 3-wk biopsies were performed. Breast MRIs were conducted at BL (T0), 3 wks (T1), 12 wks (T2), 6 mos (T3). The primary endpoint was feasibility, defined as >75% of pts completing >75% study therapy. Results: Between May 2021 and Aug 2022, 74 pts were randomized: 31 A, 21 AA, 22 AL. Median age 50 years, 54% premenopausal, 38% clinically node-positive (cN+). 41% pts had ductal, 38% lobular, 11% mixed ductal/lobular histology. Mean BL tumor Ki67 (central testing) was 16.9%, 88% MP low, 76% SET index Hi. Pt and tumor characteristics were balanced across the 3 arms. Treatment in all 3 arms was feasible with 95% of pts completing >75% study therapy. Most common AEs include grade 1-2 hot flashes (69%) and fatigue (66%). Grade 3 AEs include neutropenia (2 pts) and diarrhea (1 pt) in AA. Table summarizes key response endpoints, which were similar between pre- and postmenopausal pts. Of 28 cN+ pts, 2 (7%) were pathologically node-negative (pN-). Mean MRI Functional Tumor Volume (cc) change between T0->T1, T1->T2, T2->T3, T0->T3 was -6.06 (-34.2%), -3.55 (-29.2%), -0.829 (-20.1%), -11.3 (-68.4%), respectively, similar across arms (p=0.396).ctDNA was detected in 10/59 (17%) pts at T0. ctDNA became undetectable in 6 pts, decreased in 4 pts, and went from ctDNA undetectable at baseline to detectable at T3 in 2 pts. Conclusions: Six months of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) with the oral SERD amcenestrant is feasible, well-tolerated, and demonstrates anti-proliferative and anti-tumor activity in pre- and postmenopausal pts. NET provides a rich platform for biomarker discovery and investigating response to endocrine therapy. Clinical trial information: NCT01042379 . [Table: see text]
Rates of pathologic complete response (pCR)after neoadjuvant datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato): Results from the I-SPY2.2 trial.
Khoury, Katia , Chien, A. Jo , Arora, Mili, Rozenblit, Mariya, Williams, Nicole , Nanda, Rita , Stringer-Reasor, Erica , Nangia, Chaitali, Veer, Laura van 't, Hylton, Nola, Investigators, ISPY2, Meisel, Jane Lowe , Wallace, Anne M. , Rozenblit, Mariya , Borges, Virginia F. , Boughey, Judy C. , Vaklavas, Christos , DeMichele, Angela , Yee, Douglas , Yau, Christina , Esserman, Laura J. , Investigators, ISPY2

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 5, 2024 | Volume: 42 | Issue: 17_suppl | Pages: LBA509-LBA509

10.1200/jco.2024.42.17_suppl.lba509 Get It

LBA509 Background: I-SPY2.2 is a multicenter phase 2 platform sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) evaluating novel experimental regimens in the neoadjuvant breast cancer setting. The novel therapy is given as first in a sequence (Block A), followed by standard chemo/targeted therapies (Block B/C) if indicated. The goal is to identify agents that lead to pCR after novel targeted agents alone, or in sequence with optimal therapy assigned based on the tumor response predictive subtype (RPS). RPS incorporates expression-based immune, DNA repair deficiency (DRD), and luminal signatures with hormone receptor (HR) and HER2 status to classify patients by subtype: S1: HR+HER2-Immune-DRD-; S2: HR-HER2-Immune-DRD-; S3: HER2-Immune+; S4: HER2-Immune-DRD+; S5: HER2+/non-Luminal; S6: HER2+/Luminal. Methods: RPS S1, S2, S3 and S4 were eligible for assignment to Dato in Block A. Patients (pts) were followed by MRI during treatment (at 3, 6 and 12 weeks after start of Blocks A and B). Predicted responders by MRI and biopsy at the end of Block A or B have the option of going to surgery early, otherwise they proceed to next treatment Block (B +/- C). Randomization to Block B includes a taxane-based regimen specific to the RPS, and options include S1: paclitaxel; S2 and S3: paclitaxel + carboplatin + pembrolizumab; S4: paclitaxel + carboplatin vs. paclitaxel + carboplatin + pembrolizumab. Patients who did not go to surgery after Block B proceeded to Block C (AC or AC + Pembrolizumab if HR-HER2-). The primary endpoint is pCR. Efficacy is evaluated within each RPS and HR+HER2- and HR-HER2- signatures. To estimate the arm's efficacy as a stand-alone therapy, we use a Bayesian covariate-adjusted model to estimate the pCR rate and compare the posterior distribution to a subtype-specific fixed threshold. This model uses pCR data when available and MRI data when pCR is not. To estimate pCR rate in the context of a multi-decision treatment regimen, we use a Bayesian model based on if and when a pCR occurred in the trial. The posterior is compared to a subtype-specific dynamic control generated from historical I-SPY data. Results: 103 pts were randomly assigned to the Dato arm between August 2022 and August 2023. All patients have proceeded beyond Block A; 33 went to surgery after Dato alone. The efficacy results for Dato as a stand-alone therapy are summarized in Table. Conclusions: Dato monotherapy was active, particularly in the HR-HER2- signature, but did not meet the pre-specified threshold for graduation in I-SPY 2.2. Clinical trial information: NCT01042379 . [Table: see text]