Goetz, Matthew P.

Abstract Background: We have previously shown in animal models that combination anti-HER2 therapy leads to complete tumor regression of HER2+ breast cancer (BC). We translated these findings in a neoadjuvant trial of 12 weeks (wks) of L+T (TBCRC006) that demonstrated a meaningful pathologic complete response (pCR) and near pCR (in ER+ tumors) in patients with locally advanced HER2+ BC. In the present trial, we sought to determine whether longer treatment would lead to a higher rate of pCR without the use of chemotherapy by converting near pCR to pCR especially in the ER+ subset. Methods: TBCRC023 (NCT00999804) is a randomized phase II trial combining a Simon Phase 2 design in the experimental arm with a pick-the-winner design, not powered for direct comparison. Women with HER2+ BC measuring 2 cm or larger were eligible and were randomized in a 1:2 ratio to 12 vs. 24 wks of L+T. Letrozole (along with ovarian suppression if premenopausal) was also administered in patients whose tumors were also ER+. Serial tumor biopsies were obtained at baseline, wk 1, wk 12, and at the time of surgery. All evaluable patients were assessed for pCR, defined as no residual invasive carcinoma in the breast. Patients did not undergo surgery, withdrew consent, or received additional neoadjuvant therapy were counted as non-responders. Results: Ninety-seven patients were enrolled (33 in 12-wk arm and 64 in 24-wk arm), of whom 95 were evaluable. Seventy seven percent of patients were white and 18% were black. Twenty percent were of Hispanic ethnicity. Median age was 51 and 55% were postmenopausal. Median tumor size was 5 cm and 65% were ER+. Study treatment was well tolerated with grade 1-2 diarrhea (24% in 12-wk arm, 31% in 24-wk arm) and grade 1-2 acneform rash (12% in 12-wk arm, 19% in 24-wk arm) being the most common toxicities. Grade 3 toxicities were uncommon and were mostly in the 24-wk arm (elevated liver function test: 9%, diarrhea 2%, mucositis 2%), while the 12-wk arm had one grade 3 anemia and the study’s only serious adverse event (acute kidney injury). There were no grade 4 toxicities. The experimental arm completed stage 2 accrual and pCR rate was numerically superior to control, entirely due to better results in ER+ (Table 1), but lower than the expected pCR rate of 36% needed in the planned analysis to conclude in favor of enhanced efficacy with extended therapy. pCR rates were also lower in the control arm than in the previous study. Table 1. pCR rates 12-week arm % (n)24-week arm % (n)ER-positive8.7% (2/23)33.2% (13/39)ER-negative20% (2/10)8.7% (2/23)Overall pCR12.2% (4/33)24.2% (15/62) Conclusions: Treatment with L+T (with endocrine therapy in ER+ tumors) for 24 weeks leads to doubling of the pCR rate in women with HER2+ breast cancer without using cytotoxic chemotherapy. This approach is effective and well tolerated and warrants study as part of a de-escalation strategy that may spare some patients the cost and toxicity of chemotherapy. Tissue obtained on this trial will provide a valuable resource to validate correlative findings from our prior studies and discover new biomarkers to help guide proper patient selection for treatment. Citation Format: Mothaffar F Rimawi, Polly A Niravath, Tao Wang, Brent Rexer, Andres Forero, Antonio C Wolff, Rita Nanda, Anna M Storniolo, Ian Krop, Matthew P Goetz, Julie R Nangia, Sao Jiralerspong, Anne C Pavlick, Carolina Gutierrez, Rachel Schiff, Susan G Hilsenbeck, C Kent Osborne. TBCRC023: A randomized multicenter phase II neoadjuvant trial of lapatinib plus trastuzumab, with endcorine therapy and without chemotherapy, for 12 vs. 24 weeks in patients with HER2 overexpressing breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr S6-02.

Abstract Background Cancer genomic investigations have identified recurrent genomic aberrations critical for cancer initiation, progression, and metastases. However, these investigations are typically performed in isolation, and the effects of treatment on the clonal selection of tumor cells are mostly unknown. We hypothesized that molecular profiling of residual tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) would identify new drug targets/pathways in patients at high risk for disease recurrence. To better identify clonal populations of resistant breast cancer cells, we utilized DNA content-based flow sorting of nuclei to identify and isolate clonal populations for aCGH and next generation sequencing (NGS) both before and after NAC. Methods The Breast Cancer Genome Guided Therapy Study (BEAUTY) (NCT 02022202) is a prospective study of patients with high-risk breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant 12 weekly paclitaxel (T) +/- trastuzumab followed by 4 cycles of anthracycline based chemotherapy. Tumor tissue from baseline, residual disease from surgery, distant metastases, and patient derived xenografts (PDX) are obtained for cell sorting by DNA ploidy, aCGH, RNA and exome sequencing. Results: 140 patients have been enrolled, 104 have completed surgery and 30 unique PDX have been established corresponding to 26 patients prior to chemotherapy and 4 from residual disease at surgery. Baseline exome and RNA sequencing is complete in 140. Currently, genomic analyses of flow sorted matched baseline, surgical, PDX, and distant disease samples are available in 6 patients. Substantial genomic variation was observed in the surgical sample compared to the primary tumor including gain of oncogenic drivers (EGFR) and loss of negative regulators (ATG5) (Table). The PDX recapitulated these events with excellent fidelity compared to the corresponding human tumor. In patients with TNBC, RNA seq obained from matched samples demonstrated changes in immune related pathways. Evaluation of drug targets/pathways identified in the resistant tumors are ongoing using the PDX and sequencing of the remaining matched baseline/surgical disease will be reported. Clonal changes occurring over time in patients with residual disease or disease recurrence after NACTumor SubtypeResidual Cancer BurdenDisease StatusClonal Aberration Changes (baseline and post NAC)TNBC (AR subtype)3Contralateral lymph node recurrence at 150 days2p25.2 - p25.1 amplicon lost at recurrence; 6p21.32 -p21.31 amplicon lost at recurrenceTNBC (BL 1)3Bone/liver/lymph node recurrence at 135 days5q11.2 amplicon gained at surgery; 12p13.33 - p13.2 amplicon gained at surgeryTNBC (BL 1)3Disease-free at day 1506q21 amplicon lost at sugeryTNBC (BL 2)0Brain recurrence at 390 daysChr 2 chromothripsis at surgeryLuminal B3Progression during chemotherapy7p12.1 - p11.2 amplicon gained at surgeryLuminal HER23Disease-free at day 3609q33.2 amplicon lost at surgery; 15q13.1 - q13.3 amplicon lost at surgery; 15q22.2 - q24.1 amplicon lost at surgery Conclusions: We observed substantial evolutionary changes in residual breast tumors remaining after NAC. Our findings suggest that a comprehensive assessment of the mutational landscape that has evolved during NAC can inform drug development in high risk breast cancer patients. Citation Format: Matthew P Goetz, Michael T Barrett, Krishna R Kalari, Vera J Suman, Sarah A McLaughlin, Alvaro Moreno-Aspitia, Ann M Moyer, Donald W Northfelt, Richard J Gray, Jason Sinnwell, Douglas Mahoney, Poulami Barman, Peter Vedell, Xiaojia Tang, Kevin Thompson, Travis Dockter, Katie Jones, Sara J Felten, Amy Conners, Jeanette Eckel-Passow, Hughes Sicotte, Steven N Hart, Jia Yu, Daniel W Visscher, Eric D Wieben, Cloann Schultz, Minetta C Liu, James N Ingle, Liewei Wang, Richard W Weinshilboum, Judy C Boughey. Impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the clonal composition of breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PD3-3.

Abstract Purpose: Tamoxifen and raloxifene, are primary prevention strategies for women at high risk of breast cancer (Visvanathan, 2013). Recent advances in genetic studies of breast cancer risk have identified common susceptibility loci that explain 14% of familial risk for breast cancer in the general population (Michailidou, 2013). However, it is not known if these loci are risk factors for breast cancer among high-risk women treated with SERMs for breast cancer prevention. We hypothesized that the large risk reduction associated with SERMs, coupled with the fact that several breast cancer loci correlate with family history, may limit the contribution of these common genetic loci to breast cancer in this high risk population. We present the first report to evaluate 75 established breast cancer susceptibility loci, in the context of a polygenic risk score (PRS), as a risk factor for breast cancer among high risk women taking raloxifene and tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention. Methods: We conducted a matched case-control study of 594 cases (i.e., participants who developed breast cancer while on SERM therapy) and 1,171 matched controls selected from the 33,000 participants enrolled in the NSABP P-1 and P-2 breast cancer prevention trials. Genotypes of 75 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were available from a genome-wide association study conducted at the RIKEN Center for Genomic Medicine. We formed a quantitative PRS from reported per-SNP odds ratios (OR) for the 75 susceptibility loci. Conditional logistic regression was used to examine the PRS as a risk factor for breast cancer and to assess whether the PRS and breast cancer association differed by treatment type, family history, or other clinical characteristics. Analyses also examined associations of PRS with invasive vs. in situ cancer and ER-positive vs. ER-negative cancer. Results: The PRS ranged from 3.98 to 7.74, and a one unit change in PRS was associated with a 42% increase in breast cancer (OR=1.42; 95% CI: 1.18-1.70; P = 0.0002). There was evidence of a stronger association of PRS with breast cancer among women with no first-degree family history (OR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.18-2.21) compared to those with a positive family history (OR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.06-1.66) (Pintx<0.05). The PRS also appeared a stronger risk factor for ER-positive (OR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.25-2.02, P < 0.0002) vs. ER-negative (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 0.68-1.62, P=0.84) breast cancer, although differences did not reach statistical significance (Pintx=0.10). PRS and breast cancer associations were similar across tamoxifen and raloxifene treatments, age at trial entry, 5-year predicted Gail model risk, hysterectomy status, BMI, presence of atypical hyperplasia and invasive vs. in situ cancer. Conclusion: A polygenic risk score composed of 75 loci was a risk factor for ER-positive breast cancer, especially in the absence of a first-degree family history of breast cancer. Further, the PRS associations with breast cancer were similar for women taking tamoxifen or raloxifene for prevention. These data suggest that common genetic variation adds information on risk of ER-positive breast cancer in a high-risk population receiving SERMs. Citation Format: Celine M Vachon, Daniel J Schaid, James N Ingle, Matthew P Goetz, Donald L Wickerham, Michiaki Kubo, Erin E Carlson, Soonmyung Paik, Norman Wolmark, Yusuke Nakamura, Liewei Wang, Richard M Weinshilboum, Fergus J Couch. The contribution of common genetic variation to breast cancer risk among women receiving tamoxifen or raloxifene within the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) P-1 and P-2 trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-10-03.

Abstract Background: While the biological functions and clinical importance of ERα are well understood in breast cancer, much less is known about its most closely related family member, ERβ, particularly in the setting of triple negative disease. Additionally, the ability to therapeutically target ERβ in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has not been fully explored. Methods: Expression of ERβ protein was determined using a well characterized and validated ERβ specific monoclonal antibody that only recognizes the full-length form of this receptor (PPG5/10) in a cohort of 71 TNBCs. To further define the biological functions of ERβ in TNBC, novel ERβ expressing triple negative cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and Hs578T) were developed and comprehensively characterized at the level of global gene expression profiling, modulation of important biological pathways, cellular proliferation and response to targeted therapies. Results: In TNBCs from 71 patients, nuclear and cytoplasmic ERβ was detected at moderate to high levels in 24% and 32% of cases respectively. This moderate to high expression of both nuclear and cytoplasmic ERβ was associated with higher levels of Ki67. Of the 17 tumors expressing ERβ, 13 (76%) were negative for androgen receptor expression. In the triple negative MDA-MB-231-ERβ and Hs578T-ERβ cell lines, expression of ERβ led to inhibition of proliferation in response to both estrogen and multiple ERβ specific agonists. Microarray analysis and RT-PCR profiling of these cells revealed that estrogen and ERβ agonists highly induced the expression of multiple cystatins, a family of small secreted cysteine protease inhibitors, while suppressing the expression of many interleukins. Conditioned media isolated from estrogen or ERβ agonist treated MDA-MB-231-ERβ cells inhibited the proliferation rates and blocked TGFβ signaling in non-ERβ expressing TNBC cells, effects that were completely reversed following depletion of cystatins from the conditioned media. Conclusions: ERβ is expressed in a substantial proportion of TNBCs, and most do not express the androgen receptor. In TNBC, where targeted therapies are lacking, our data suggest that estrogen or ERβ specific agonists would be expected to elicit anti-tumor effects when ERβ is expressed. These tumor suppressive effects of ERβ appear to be mediated in part through the actions of cystatins, and their inhibition of TGFβ signaling, suggesting that this family of secreted proteins may represent novel biomarkers for monitoring ERβ specific drug responsiveness and/or patient outcomes. Citation Format: Jordan M Reese, Malayannan Subramaniam, Vera J Suman, Xianglin Wu, Vivian Negron, Anne Gingery, Kevin S Pitel, Sejal S Shah, Heather E Cunliffe, Ann E McCullough, Barbara A Pockaj, Thomas C Spelsberg, Matthew P Goetz, James N Ingle, John R Hawse. Therapeutic targeting of ERβ in triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-03-06.

Abstract Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents 15% of all breast cancers, and is characterized by an aggressive clinical course. While efforts are ongoing to characterize the molecular basis for variation in TNBC, there are conflicting data regarding the impact of prognostic factors such as age and Ki-67 typically used for treatment decisions in other breast cancer subtypes. We identified a retrospective cohort of women with ER- breast cancer with long term follow-up, and performed central confirmation of ER, PR, HER2, Ki-67 and histological classification to assess the association of Ki-67 and histologic subtype on clinical outcome in TNBC pateints (pts). Methods: 9,836 women who underwent breast cancer surgery at Mayo Clinic Rochester from 1985-2005 were identified. Pts were excluded due to: ER+ disease (7363); prior cancer (553); non-invasive disease (465); bilateral breast cancer (167); metastatic disease [at diagnosis or within 60 days of surgery (110)]; ER- disease treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (121) or adjuvant hormonal therapy (112); or tumor block exhausted (94). For all others, centralized ER/PR/HER2 identified the following for exclusion, >1% ER staining (n=76), > 1% PR (n=14) and HER2+ (n=144) by IHC (3+) or FISH amplification. 225 cases are still undergoing review. For the centrally confirmed pts with TNBC (n=392), Ki-67 and histological characterization (WHO subtypes) were assessed. Results: Patient characteristics are listed in the table. The median age for all TNBC’s was 45 (range 29-88) and nearly all tumors were grade 3 (91%) with high proliferation (63% with Ki-67 > 30%). The median follow-up was >10 years, where 139 pts had a disease event: progression (86) or second primary (53) and 53 died without a disease event. The 10 yr DFS rate was 55.8% (95%CI: 48.8-63.9%) among the 238 pts who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy (AdjCT) and 58.9% (95% CI: 48.9-70.9%) among the 102 pts administered AdjCT. In pts without adjCT, DFS was found to differ with respect to number of positive LNs (0 vs. 1-4 vs. 4+; log rank p=0.003) and medullary histology (log rank p=0.015) but not with age (< 50 vs. ≥ 50), tumor size (< 2.0 vs. 2-5 vs. ≥ 5.0 cm) or Ki-67 (0-15% vs. 15.1-30% vs. >30 %). Conclusions: Our findings confirm the poor prognosis of TNBC. The medullary histological subtype is associated with significantly better prognosis than other TNBC subtypes (10 year DFS rate of 78.5%; 95%CI: 59.1-99.9% in pts not treated with adjCT). After central confirmation, neither age nor Ki-67 provide additional prognostic information. Patient characteristicsMedian Age (range)45(29-88) n%Histology Apocrine287.1Carcinoma, anaplastic or undiffrentiated9323.7Central scar/necrotizing348.7Clear Cell297.4Infiltrating ductal ca7118.1Large Cell neuroendocrine143.6Medullary and atypical medullary4311.0Metaplastic ca246.1Trabecular ca338.4other histologies235.9Grade 130.82317.9335891.3Tumor Size 0.1-2 cm19650> 2.0 cm19549.6not stated10.3Nodal status 0251641-38220.94-9338.410+225.6not evaluated41.0Ki-67 0-157719.615.1-306516.6>30%24763.3not done20.5Adjuvant Chemotherapy Yes10226.0No23860.7unknown5213.3 Citation Format: Ahmed Elkhanany, Vera J Suman, Victoria Cafourek, Judith A Gilbert, James N Ingle, Fergus Couch, Daniel W Vissscher, Matthew P Goetz. Triple negative breast cancer: The role of classic histological and prognostic factors on disease free survival [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-02-11.

Abstract Background: Breast cancer recurrence has been shown to differ based upon CYP2D6 genotype and endoxifen (Endx) exposure following treatment with tamoxifen (TAM) in the adjuvant setting. The average Endx Css is 29 nM (range, 2-80 nM) in TAM treated patients at a dose of 20 mg/day. Administration of Endx itself to patients is predicted to provide adequate, consistent, active drug levels in all treated patients, resulting in clinical benefit. As part of two phase 1 trials of oral Endx to determine the safety, tolerability, and MTD, we characterized the pharmacokinetics and in vivo metabolism of Endx. Methods: Patients were given escalating daily oral doses of Endx (28 day cycle) over the dose range of 20 - 160 mg/day in Phase I trials at the Mayo Clinic and NCI. Pharmacokinetics sampling was performed on days 1, 7, 14 and 28, and prior to subsequent cycles. Endx plasma concentrations and metabolite profiles were determined by HPLC and LC/MS/MS. Results: 44 patients with ECOG PS 0-1 have been enrolled to date encompassing 8 dose levels in the Mayo (25 women with AI refractory MBC; median age 58 yrs, range 41-83 yrs) and NCI (19 women with ovary (9), breast (4), desmoid (2), fallopian tube (2), endometrial cancer (2); median age 64 yrs, range 43-75 yrs) studies. Day 1 Endx peak concentrations (Cmax) were reached 4h after the Endx oral dose and mean values of Cmax, C24h, and AUC0-24h increased in proportion to dose. Css was achieved on day 7 and 3.5-fold accumulation (t1/2= 50.5 h) was observed on day 28. At the starting dose ( 20 mg/day) and highest dose level (160 mg/day), Endx Css values of 146 ng/ml (390 nM) and 1950 ng/ml (5200 nM), respectively, were achieved and maintained throughout the 28-day treatment. Endx Css values remained unchanged following continuous dosing for 8-10 months. The mean apparent steady-state clearance was 6.2 L/h. We also characterized the Endx metabolite profile in patient plasma and urine. Metabolites detected in plasma include nor-Endx, N-hydroxy-Endx, Endx-catechol, methoxy-Endx catechol, and Endx-glucuronide, and appear in amounts much lower compared to Endx. Like the parent drug, metabolites accumulated in plasma over the 28-day cycle. Characterization of the pharmacokinetics of Nor-Endx, a putative aromatase inhibitor, is ongoing and will be presented. Conclusion: In these ongoing Phase I studies, daily administration of Endx is well tolerated with Css consistently above those obtained following administration of standard dose tamoxifen. In the Mayo study, expansion at 20 and 100 mg/day has commenced to perform translational studies and further characterize Endx PK. In the NCI study, dose escalation continues to establish the maximum tolerated dose. Supported in part by R01CA 133049, U01 CA69912, P30CA 15083, P50CA 116201 and NCI Contracts CM52206 and HHSN261201100014C. Citation Format: Joel M. Reid, Matthew P. Goetz, Shivaani Kumar, Renee M. McGovern, Sarah A. Buhrow, Stephanie L. Safgren, Vera J. Suman, Travis J. Docktor, Charles Erlichman, Howard Streicher, James H. Doroshow, Jerry Collins, Matthew M. Ames. Pharmacokinetics and in vivo metabolism of Z-endoxifen: Results from two phase I studies in women with ER+ breast cancer, gynecologic malignancies and desmoids. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4631. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4631

Abstract INTRODUCTION Patient derived xenografts (PDX) may better reflect individual patient (pt) tumor biology; however, the feasibility of collecting PDX from percutaneous tumor biopsies (PTB) in the neoadjuvant setting is unknown. Furthermore, drug response phenotypes observed in PDX have not been prospectively compared to the corresponding pt clinical outcomes. METHODS The Breast Cancer Genome Guided Therapy Study (BEAUTY) is a prospective Mayo study of pts with high-risk breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant weekly paclitaxel (T) +/- trastuzumab followed by anthracycline based chemotherapy. PTB (at baseline) and residual surgical tissue (after all chemotherapy) are obtained for next generation sequencing (NGS) and PDX. Tumor biopsies (1-2 cores from 14 gauge needle) were implanted with Matrigel <1 hour of collection in the flanks of NOD-SCID or NSG mice. Low dose estradiol was supplemented in the drinking water. Primary outgrowth rate was defined as PDX tumor volume >50 mm3. Take rate was defined as development of at least 1 stably transplantable xenograft line/pt. To determine whether clinical T response assessed by MRI corresponded with in vivo T response, pretreatment PDX from 5 pts were injected into NOD-SCID mice (20 mice per pt PDX) and when tumors reached 100-200mm3, mice were randomized to no treatment vs T (20 mg/kg, ip. every 3-4 days). Two of these 5 patients had a MRI response defined as >30% decrease in longest lesion. RESULTS Pretreatment PTB from 81 unique pts were implanted in 251 mice (2-4 mice/pt). PDX outgrowth rates were 33.3% (27/81 pts) and 22 stable PDX were established (overall take rate 27.2%). Take rates were as follows: triple negative breast cancer (46%; 13/28); HER2 (27%; 6/22), Luminal B (13%; 3/22), and luminal A (0%; 0/9). Residual surgical tumor (after all treatment) from 17 pts was injected into 85 mice (average 5 mice/pt) and the initial outgrowth rate was 23% (4/17) with 3 stably transplantable lines established. PDX, derived from pretreatment PTB of 5 pts (2 responders and 3 non-responders), were assessed for in vivo T response. The size of the T treated group was significantly smaller than the no treatment group for the PDX derived from the 2 clinical responders, with complete disappearance of tumor by 18 days. In contrast, the PDX derived from the 3 clinical non-responders had no evidence for T response. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated the feasibility of using PTB to establish PDX in a prospective neoadjuvant clinical study and have demonstrated similar T drug response phenotypes in in the PDX as seen in the corresponding pt. These data suggest that PDX generated prospectively may be useful for biomarker validation and the development and individualization of new drug therapy. Funded by the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine and the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Citation Format: Jia Yu, Ping Yin, Bowen Gao, Jason P. Sinnwell, Ann M. Moyer, Daniel W. Visscher, Amy L. Conners, Travis J. Dockter, Krishna R. Kalari, Xiaojia Tang, Kevin J. Thompson, Hugues Sicotte, Douglas W. Mahoney, Steven N. Hart, Peter T. Vedell, Poulami Barman, Katie N. Jones, Sarah A. McLaughlin, John A. Copland, Alvaro Moreno Aspitia, Donald W. Northfelt, Richard J. Gray, Vera J. Suman, Jeanette E. Eckel Passow, Eric D. Wieben, James N. Ingle, Zhenkun Lou, Gianrico Farrugia, Richard Weinshilboum, Matthew P. Goetz, Judy C. Boughey, Liewei Wang. Feasibility of using percutaneous tumor biopsies from a prospective neoadjuvant breast cancer study to develop patient derived xenografts and assess in vivo chemotherapy sensitivity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1195. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1195

Abstract We have recently reported that in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, neoadjuvant targeted therapy with lapatinib and trastuzumab to more completely block the HER receptor layer, combined with endocrine therapy (in ER-positive tumors) and without chemotherapy led to a substantial 27% pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in the breast. Activation of downstream signaling pathways may lead to resistance to therapies targeting the HER pathway receptors. Aberrant activation of the PI3K pathway via decreased levels of PTEN and/or the presence of activating PIK3CA mutations has been implicated in resistance to targeted anti-HER2 therapy, but results of clinical trials are all confounded by the co-administration of chemotherapy and are inconsistent. We sought to clarify the role of these variables in predicting pCR, a surrogate for long-term outcome, in patients treated with potent targeted therapy alone in a prospective Phase II neoadjuvant trial in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Patients with large tumors (median 6 cm) were given 12 weeks of lapatinib plus trastuzumab followed by surgery (Rimawi et al. JCO, 2013). Serial tissue biopsies were obtained from study participants. For this study, we focused on baseline pre-treatment characteristics. PTEN protein levels were measured by IHC and scored using the H-score. PIK3CA mutations were identified on extracted DNA using multiplex PCR with targeted next generation sequencing (the Ion Torrent 50-gene cancer mutation panel). Of 64 evaluable patients, tissue was available on 59 for PTEN IHC, and sufficient DNA was available on 33 for the mutation panel. PTEN median H-score was 100 (range 0-300). PTEN status when dichotomized by the median was correlated with pCR (32% in high PTEN vs. 9% in low PTEN, p = 0.04). Activating PIK3CA mutations were identified in 12 out of 33 tumors (36%; 3 mutations in the helical and 9 in the catalytic domain) and were independent of ER status. None of the patients whose tumors harbored a PIK3CA mutation achieved pCR (p = 0.06). There was no association between PTEN status and PIK3CA mutation suggesting they are independent variables (p = 0.44). When PIK3CA mutations were considered together with PTEN status, there were 31 cases with data on both. The overall pCR rate in this cohort was 16% (lower than pCR rate observed in the overall trial). However, 0/17 cases (0%) with a mutation and/or PTEN low expression (<100 H score) had a pCR compared to 5/14 cases (36%) with PI3KCA wild type and high PTEN levels (p = 0.01). We conclude that PI3K pathway activation downstream of HER2 as a result of either low PTEN or activating PIK3CA mutation results in resistance to the combination of lapatinib and trastuzumab. This is the first report on patient tissue samples from a neoadjuvant trial using the combination of lapatinib and trastuzumab without chemotherapy. If validated in a larger cohort, our findings suggest that patients with HER2 positive tumors and who also harbor aberrant downstream PI3K pathway activation may benefit from the addition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors to potent HER2 blockade. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr PD1-2.

Abstract Background: The potential for exploiting BRCA deficiencies with DNA repair inhibitors has both pre-clinical and clinical support. ABT-888 (veliparib), a DNA repair inhibitor initially thought to target Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerases (PARP), has demonstrated in vitro inhibition of BRCA1 and BRCA2 deficient mouse embryonic stell cells, with a larger effect on BRCA1 cells. We report on the pre-planned interim analysis of the efficacy of single agent veliparib in patients with either BRCA1 or BRCA2-associated stage IV breast cancer. Methods: BRCA 1 or 2 carrier patients with stage IV breast cancer, with measurable disease, without prior exposure to a PARP inhibitor or a platinum compound in the metastatic setting, were eligible. Velapirib was administered orally, at doses of 400 mg twice daily. Dose adjustments based on toxicity were permitted. Patients progressing on velapirib alone received carboplatin at an AUC of 5, IV, given Q 21 days, and velapirib 150 mg twice daily (the maximum tolerated dose [MTD] of the combination from our completed Phase I study: J Clin Oncol 30, 2012 [suppl; abstr 1024]). Patients were to be accrued from 7 NCI NO1- supported consortia. Initially 10 patients were to be accrued to each stratum (BRCA1 and BRCA2) to provide evidence of single agent activity. If there was sufficient activity to warrant consideration of velapirib as single agent therapy (defined as 2 or more confirmed partial [PR] or better responses out of 10 per stratum), an additional 12 patients would be accrued per stratum. Results: 20 evaluable patients (11 BRCA1 and 9 BRCA2 [1 in screening]) have been accrued, the majority with lung or liver as visceral metastatic sites of disease. Median age (range) is 46 (29-68) years. Tumors from 9 patients were hormone receptor positive. BRCA1 cohort: 4 of 11 patients are off treatment at a median of 2 months (1-4); 1 patient stopped velapirib due to toxicity (grade 2 rash/pruritus, grade 2 vomiting), 3 stopped for progressive disease (one with an unconfirmed PR). Seven patients are still on single agent veliparib with 1 unconfirmed PR, and 1 patient with two evaluations showing stable disease. BRCA2 cohort: 2 patients are off treatment at 2 months for progressive disease, 7 are still on treatment with 1 confirmed PR, and 3 unconfirmed PRs. Data on patients receiving combination of velapirib and carboplatin after progression is too early. Treatment-related toxicity is being updated and has so far been reported from 14 patients: 1 patient had grade 3 fatigue, 1 patient with liver metastasis had both grade 3 alanine aminotransferase elevation and grade 3 abdominal pain. Grade 2 toxicities occurring in more than 1 patient included nausea/vomiting (6 patients), chills (2 patients), and fatigue (2 patients). Conclusion: Velapirib has single agent activity in both BRCA1 and BRCA2-associated stage IV breast cancer patients, and is well-tolerated. Mature response, treatment, and toxicity data will be presented. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P2-16-05.

Endoxifen (4-hydroxy-N-desmethyl-tamoxifen), one of the major active metabolites of tamoxifen, has substantially greater estrogen antagonist properties and antiproliferative effects in breast tumor cells than tamoxifen, a mixed estrogen agonist/antagonist. An associated risk of endometrial cancer and hyperplasia has been linked to the estrogen agonist properties of tamoxifen. We evaluated endoxifen using a classic uterotrophic effects method. Rats were given endoxifen or tamoxifen orally for 3 days. Estradiol was the positive control. Endoxifen and tamoxifen plasma levels exceeded those previously observed clinically. Uterine weight was 3-fold higher in the estradiol group than in the tamoxifen or endoxifen groups, which did not differ from vehicle controls. Tamoxifen and endoxifen caused a greater increase in luminal epithelial cell height than estradiol. Both tamoxifen and endoxifen produced an increase in the stromal BrdU labeling index (LI) that was ≤ estradiol and inversely related to dose, but did not affect luminal epithelial cell BrdU LI. As expected, estradiol increased luminal epithelial cell proliferation. These results indicate that endoxifen induces uterotrophic effects, but is less potent than estradiol in eliciting these effects. Given prior preclinical observations that endoxifen has superior antitumor activity than tamoxifen, the observations of similar uterine effects suggest that the endoxifen risk/benefit ratio may be superior to tamoxifen.