Gradishar, William J.

The treatment landscape of invasive early-stage and metastatic breast cancer is evolving constantly. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on recent updates included in the most recent version (version 5.2025) of the NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer specific to workup, locoregional therapy, surveillance, and systemic neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy recommendations for invasive, nonmetastatic breast cancer.

Breast cancer is treated with a multidisciplinary approach involving surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and medical oncology. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Breast Cancer include recommendations for clinical management of patients with carcinoma in situ, invasive breast cancer, Paget’s disease, Phyllodes tumor, inflammatory breast cancer, and management of breast cancer during pregnancy. The content featured in this issue focuses on the recommendations for overall management of systemic therapy (preoperative and adjuvant) options for nonmetastatic breast cancer. For the full version of the NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer, visit NCCN.org .

Abstract Background In 2008, bevacizumab received accelerated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Based on the preclinical and preliminary clinical activity of the trastuzumab and bevacizumab combination, ECOG-ACRIN E1105 trial was developed to determine if the addition of bevacizumab to a chemotherapy and trastuzumab combination for first-line therapy would improve progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with HER2-positive MBC. Findings: 96 patients were randomized to receive standard first-line chemotherapy and trastuzumab with or without bevacizumab between November 2007 and October 2009, and 93 began protocol therapy. Induction therapy was given for 24 weeks, followed by maintenance trastuzumab with or without bevacizumab. 60% (56/93) began carboplatin and 74% (69/93) completed 6 cycles of induction therapy. Primary endpoint was PFS. Median PFS was 11.1 and 13.8 months for placebo and bevacizumab arms, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] 95%, Confidence Interval [Cl] for bevacizumab vs. placebo: 0.73 [0.43–1.23], p = 0.24), and at a median follow-up of 70.7 months, median survival was 49.1 and 63 months (HR [95% Cl] for OS: 1.09 [0.61–1.97], p = 0.75). The most common toxicities across both arms were neutropenia and hypertension, with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, fatigue, and sensory neuropathy reported more frequently with bevacizumab. Conclusions In this trial, the addition of bevacizumab did not improve outcomes in patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. Although the trial was underpowered due to smaller than anticipated sample size, these findings corroborated other clinical trials during this time.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Breast Cancer address all aspects of management for breast cancer. The treatment landscape of metastatic breast cancer is evolving constantly. The therapeutic strategy takes into consideration tumor biology, biomarkers, and other clinical factors. Due to the growing number of treatment options, if one option fails, there is usually another line of therapy available, providing meaningful improvements in survival. This NCCN Guidelines Insights report focuses on recent updates specific to systemic therapy recommendations for patients with stage IV (M1) disease.

Abstract MT-5111 is a 55kD engineered toxin body targeting HER2 in solid tumors that binds to an epitope distinct from trastuzumab and pertuzumab, offering potential combination strategies with other HER2-targeting agents. MT-5111 works by internalizing, self-routing through intracellular compartments to the cytosol, and inducing potent cell-kill via the enzymatic and permanent inactivation of ribosomes. This is a phase 1 study in adults with advanced HER2+ solid tumors. MT-5111 is dosed weekly IV over 30 min in every 21-day cycle until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, death, or withdrawn consent. The study has dose escalation (Part A) cohorts enrolling patients (pts) with any HER2+ cancer (CA) and expansion (Part B) cohorts for HER2+ breast cancer (BC), Gastric or Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEA), or other HER2+ solid CA. As of 30 June 2022, 42 total pts had enrolled (36 in Part A on 0.5-23 µg/kg/dose, 6 pts with BC in Part B1 on 10 µg/kg/dose). Median age 65 years, 28 (66.78%) pts were female, median of 4 prior systemic and 2 prior HER2-targeting treatment (tx). 17 pts with BC, 6 with biliary CA, 9 with GEA, and 10 with other solid CA have enrolled. Of the 17 BC pts, 15 received ≥ 10 µg/kg/dose. Tx emergent adverse events (TEAEs) have been reported in 40 (95%) pts, and tx-related AEs (TRAE) occurred in 23 (55%) pts. No pt experienced G4-G5 TRAE. G1 troponin elevations were noted in 5 pts without clinical signs of cardiotoxicity (1 pt 6.75 µg/kg, 2 pts 10 µg/kg, 1 pt 17 µg/kg, 1 pt 23 µg/kg). Reversible G1/G2 infusion-related reactions were reported in 2 pts. Tx-related G1-G3 rash was observed in 5 pts (4 pts ≥ 10 µg/kg/dose); maculopapular in 2 pts, acneiform in 1 pt and associated with pruritus in 3 pts. The G3 rash developed one wk after first dose of 23 µg/kg, was declared a DLT, improved with systemic steroid therapy and the pt continued tx at the same dose without recurrence. Best overall response per RECIST thus far is stable disease (SD) in 17 pts, non-CR/non-PD in 1 pt, and progressive disease (PD) in 14 pts. 1 pt had non-CR/non-PD for 30 wks (1 μg/kg, BC); 1 pt had SD for 24wks (10 μg/kg, pancreatic); 1 pt is on tx with SD through 8 cycles (10 μg/kg, BC). Of the 10 BC pts who received ≥ 10 μg/kg/dose, the best response was 5 SD. The mean serum concentration of MT-5111 has increased in a dose-proportional manner starting at 6.75µg/kg/dose (Table 1). The soluble HER2 (sHER2) levels at end of tx were higher compared to baseline in cohorts that received ≤ 4.5µg/kg/dose, but similar or lower in cohorts that received ≥ 6.75µg/kg/dose. Higher MT-5111 doses have been well tolerated and may saturate circulating sHER2, leading to more predictable serum concentrations and tumor penetration. The Cmax in humans at doses ≥6.75 µg/kg/dose is above the in vitro IC50 for high HER2+ cell lines (0.029nM) and at 17 µg/kg/dose, above the IC50 for moderate HER2+ cells (1.6nM). In conclusion, the dose proportionate increase in serum concentration with levels above the in vitro IC50 and the leveling off/reduction of sHER2 indicate exposure to MT-5111 is at clinically therapeutic levels. Skin toxicity at higher doses may indicate on-target effect as observed in other EGFR-targeted therapies where it is associated with clinical response and a better prognosis. sHER2 biomarker data is expected for all cohorts with PK correlation and 23µg/kg safety and efficacy data. PK profile of MT-5111, C1D1 values Citation Format: Meena Okera, Brian A. Van Tine, Joleen M. Hubbard, Minal Barve, Erika Hamilton, Monica M. Mita, Frances Valdes-Albini, Daniel Ahn, Admasu Mamuye, Joshua Pelham, Amy Yuet, Diana Yurewicz, Yanning Liu, Andres Machado Sandri, William J. Edenfield, Aki Morikawa, William Gradishar, Rajiv Kumar, Zev A. Wainberg. A phase 1 study of the novel immunotoxin MT-5111 in patients with HER2+ tumors: interim results [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr OT2-11-01.

The therapeutic options for patients with noninvasive or invasive breast cancer are complex and varied. These NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines for Breast Cancer include recommendations for clinical management of patients with carcinoma in situ, invasive breast cancer, Paget disease, phyllodes tumor, inflammatory breast cancer, and management of breast cancer during pregnancy. The content featured in this issue focuses on the recommendations for overall management of ductal carcinoma in situ and the workup and locoregional management of early stage invasive breast cancer. For the full version of the NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer, visit NCCN.org .

TPS1107 Background: ALP (α-selective PI3K inhibitor and degrader) is approved with FUL for pts with PIK3CA-mut HR+, HER2− ABC. HG is a known on-target effect of PI3K inhibition, manageable with oral anti-HG agents such as MET and dose interruptions/modifications of ALP and reversible upon discontinuation of ALP. Although HG management guidelines were refined throughout the SOLAR-1 and BYLieve studies evaluating ALP + FUL/letrozole, there remains a need for optimized strategies beyond initial MET therapy that offers earlier and more sustained improvement of HG, particularly for pts at an increased risk for severe HG. In preclinical models, the addition of a SGLT2 inhibitor to ALP (+/− MET) reduced HG while maintaining ALP efficacy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of prophylactic MET XR +/− the SGLT2 inhibitor DAPA in reducing severe HG in pts with PIK3CA-mut HR+, HER2− ABC on ALP + FUL with an increased risk for severe HG (grade ≥ 3) on ALP. Methods: EPIK-B4 is a Phase II, randomized (1:1), open-label, active-controlled study assessing the efficacy and safety of MET XR +/− DAPA (starting at Cycle 1 Day 1 [C1D1]) with ALP (300 mg orally [PO], once daily [QD], starting at C1D8) + FUL (500 mg intramuscularly on C1D1, C1D15, and D1 of subsequent cycles) in pts (N ≈ 132) with HR+, HER2–, PIK3CA-mut ABC after progression on/after endocrine-based treatment (Tx). MET XR is administered PO starting at 500 mg QD (titrated up to 2 g QD) and MET XR + DAPA starting at 500 mg and 5 mg QD (titrated up to 2 g and 10 mg QD), respectively. Eligible pts include adult men or postmenopausal women with confirmed HR+, HER2–, PIK3CA-mut ABC and ≥ 1 risk factor for severe HG (diabetes [fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 126 mg/dL and/or HbA1c ≥ 6.5%], prediabetes [FPG ≥ 100 to < 126 mg/dL and/or HbA1c 5.7% to < 6.5%], obesity [BMI ≥ 30], age ≥ 75 years); prior endocrine-based Tx (eg, FUL or oral SERD) was permitted. Randomization is stratified by baseline diabetes status. Key exclusion criteria include > 1 line of Tx in the metastatic setting; prior chemotherapy (metastatic setting) or PI3K, mTOR, or AKT inhibitor; type I or II diabetes requiring Tx; or antecedent of pancreatitis or severe cutaneous reaction. The primary endpoint is the occurrence of severe HG (grade ≥ 3 [glucose > 250 mg/dL] based on laboratory assessments) over the first 8 weeks of ALP + FUL. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival, overall response and clinical benefit rates with confirmed response, safety, and tolerability. A biomarker analysis is planned as an exploratory objective. Recruitment is ongoing with enrollment planned in 56 sites across 8 countries; completion of primary data collection is anticipated in 2023. Clinical trial information: NCT04899349; EUDRACT#2021-001908-15.

525 Background: Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) status can be used to identify patients who are eligible for treatment with DNA damaging agents. Using a 3-biomarker Genomic Instability Score (GIS) threshold of ≥42, studies have previously examined the association between HRD status and outcomes in patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, evidence suggests that a GIS threshold of ≥33 may be more appropriate. Here, we conducted an exploratory analysis evaluating the ability of ≥33 and ≥42 GIS thresholds to predict response to platinum-based treatment in patients with TNBC. Methods: Patients across 5 cohorts (TBCRC0301, TBCRC0082, NCT013725793, PrECOG 01054, combined cisplatin cohort4) were included in this analysis if they had a primary TNBC diagnosis, received neoadjuvant platinum-based treatment, had a valid GIS, and had known pathologic complete response (pCR) status. GIS was determined by a combination of loss of heterozygosity, telomeric-allelic imbalance, and large-scale state transitions.4,5 BRCA mutation status was defined by loss of function resulting from a pathogenic variant in BRCA1 or BRCA2. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), were calculated by comparing binary threshold status and binary pCR status. Results: A total of 204 tumors (158 BRCAwt; 33 BRCAm; 13 unknown) were included; pCR to platinum-based treatment occurred in 55 cases (39 BRCAwt; 14 BRCAm; 2 unknown). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were comparable between the ≥33 and ≥42 GIS thresholds, with the ≥33 threshold producing higher sensitivity values. This was true when thresholds were applied to all samples and to BRCAwt samples only (Table). Among patients who achieved pCR in response to platinum-based treatment, 5.5% of patients in the full cohort and 7.7% of those in the BRCAwt cohort had a GIS between 33-41. Conclusions: To ensure that the majority of patients likely to benefit from treatment are identified, a GIS of ≥33 may be the most appropriate threshold to predict response to platinum-based treatment in patients with TNBC; however, a prospective trial will be needed to confirm these findings. Additional studies will be important to determine whether this threshold may be appropriate to determine eligibility for other DNA-damaging agents such as PARP inhibitors. 1. Ann Oncol. 2020;31(11):1518-25 2. J Nucl Med. 2015;56(1):31-7. 3. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2015;151(3):629-38. 4. Clin Cancer Res. 2016;22(15):3764-73. 5. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2014;16(6):1-9. [Table: see text]

The NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer include up-to-date guidelines for clinical management of patients with carcinoma in situ, invasive breast cancer, Paget disease, phyllodes tumor, inflammatory breast cancer, male breast cancer, and breast cancer during pregnancy. These guidelines are developed by a multidisciplinary panel of representatives from NCCN Member Institutions with breast cancer–focused expertise in the fields of medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, reconstructive surgery, and patient advocacy. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on the most recent updates to recommendations for adjuvant systemic therapy in patients with nonmetastatic, early-stage, hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

e12000 Sorafenib is a potent multikinase inhibitor approved by the FDA and EMEA for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. As a single agent, sorafenib has been shown to have activity in pts with BC. Here, we review the TIES program, a compilation of currently ongoing investigator-sponsored phase IIb multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that aim to determine the optimal sequencing of pharmacologic agents for the treatment of BC. All studies will combine sorafenib with first- and/or second-line chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy in pts with HER2-negative metastatic or locally advanced BC, enroll 220 pts, stratify pts by visceral vs nonvisceral disease, allow pts with evaluable and measurable disease, and include pts with treated brain metastases. The primary endpoint of all trials will be progression-free survival. Secondary endpoints will be safety, overall survival, objective response rate, duration of response, and time to progression. Some studies will also assess quality of life, pharmacokinetic sampling, and biomarkers. Additional information on four of the trials is shown below (Table). Patient characteristics and accruals will be reported. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.