Suman, Vera J.

526 Background: Z1041 randomized women with HER2+ operable breast cancer to: FEC → P+T (Arm 1) or P+T → FEC+T (Arm 2). Treatment administered as 5-FU 500 mg/m2, epirubicin 75 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 day 1 of a 21-day cycle x 4; paclitaxel 80 mg/m2weekly x 12 and T 4 mg/kg once then 2 mg/kg weekly x 11. T was to continue q3 weeks post-op for 40 weeks. A secondary aim was to examine the cardiotoxicity (CE). Methods: Ejection fraction (EF) was measured at baseline (BL), between regimens (wk 12), prior to surgery (wk 24) and PRN. Eligibility: BL EF ≥ 55%. CEs included decline in EF of > 15%, or >10% points to a value < LLN. Reversibility was adjudicated by blinded investigators as reversible (R: recovery of EF to ≤ 5% below BL), partially reversible (PR: recovery of > 10% points from nadir, but ≤ 5% points below BL), indeterminate (IN: no additional EF data), or irreversible (IRR:follow-up EF studies showed no improvement). Results: Of the 280 patients (Arm 1: 138) who began treatment, 15 pts (Arm 1: 10; Arm 2: 5) did not receive T. The number of weeks of T was 13 (range: 1-18) in Arm 1 and 24 (range: 1-31) in Arm 2. Changes in EF and severe treatment related cardiac toxicities prior to surgery (sx) are tabled below. There were 271 pts (Arm 1: 131) who had post-BL EFs. Prior to sx, there were 11 CE (8.3%) in Arm 1 and 13 CE (9.2%) in Arm 2. CEs were R in 12 pts (Arm 1: 5; Arm 2: 7); PR in 6 pts (Arm 1: 4; Arm 2: 2); IN in 4 pts (Arm 1: 2; Arm 2: 3) and IRR in 1 Arm 2 pt. Conclusions: The number of CE events in arms 1 and 2 showed no significant difference; greater scatter was observed in arm 2 patients. While concern for late cardiac events makes ongoing cardiac surveillance prudent due to A, concomitant use of A and T appear to not be associated with increased cardiac risk. Clinical trial information: NCT00513292. [Table: see text]

502 Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and concomitant trastuzumab (T) have produced high pathologic complete response (pCR) rates in HER2+ breast cancers. Z1041 addresses the timing of initiation of T with NAC. Methods: Women with operable HER2+ invasive breast cancer were randomized 1:1 to: FEC → P+T (Arm 1) or P+T → FEC+T (Arm 2) where treatment was administered as 5-FU 500 mg/m2, epirubicin 75 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 day 1 of a 21-day cycle x 4 (FEC); paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 weekly x 12 and trastuzumab 4 mg/kg once then 2 mg/kg weekly x 11. Eligibility also included: tumor > 2 cm or a positive lymph node and left ventricular ejection fraction > 55%. The primary aim was to compare the pCR rates in the breast (pBCR) between the regimens. Secondary endpoints were pCR rate in the breast and lymph nodes (pBNCR) and safety profile. All pts who began study treatment were included in the analyses. With 128 pts per regimen, a two-sided alpha=0.05 test of proportions would have a 90% chance of detecting a difference of 20% or more in the pBCR rates, when the pBCR rate with the poorer regimen is ≤ 25%. Results: From September 15, 2007 to December 15, 2011, 282 women (Arm 1: 140 pts) were enrolled. Two pts (Arm 1) withdrew without receiving treatment. The two arms were similar in age, stage, and hormone receptor (HR) status (HR neg: 40%). The severe (grade 3+) treatment-related toxicities included: neutropenia (Arm 1: 24.6%; Arm 2: 32.4%), fatigue (Arm 1: 4.3%; Arm 2: 8.5%), and neurosensory problems (Arm 1: 3.6%; Arm 2: 4.9%). The pBCR rate and pBNCR rates (Table) were not found to differ between the two regimens (Fisher’s exact p values: 0.905 and 0.811, respectively). Conclusions: High pCR rates can be achieved with trastuzumab in combination with anthracyclines and taxanes. The pBCR or pBNCR was not different between regimens based on the timing of initiation of trastuzumab. Clinical trial information: NCT00513292. [Table: see text]

503 Background: To correlate clinical features of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer with somatic mutations, massively parallel sequencing (MPS) was applied to tumor and normal DNAs accrued from patients treated with neoadjuvant aromatase inhibitors (AI). Methods: MPS was applied to 77 baseline tumor biopsy samples from the preoperative letrozole trial (JACS 2009: 208, 906) and the Z1031 trial (JCO 2011: 29, 2342) followed by targeted sequencing in another 240 trial samples. Standard statistical approaches were used to compare mutation status and clinical parameters and pathway-based correlation was used to assess interactions between signaling perturbations induced by gene mutations and response to neoadjuvant AI. Results: Eighteen genes were significantly mutated above background. Aside from PIK3CA mutations, the list is dominated by loss-of-function mutations in tumor suppressor genes. Five (RUNX1, CBFP, MYH9, MLL3 and SF3B1) have been previously linked to benign and malignant hematopoietic disorders. Clinical correlation revealed that TP53 mutation was associated with PAM50 LumB status, high-grade histology and high proliferation rates whereas loss-of-function mutations in MAP3K1 associate with PAM50 lumA status, low proliferation rates, and low grade histology. Mutations in GATA3 were associated with greater suppression of proliferation upon AI treatment suggesting mutGATA3 may predict endocrine response. Notably, mutations in MAP3K1 were more common in PIK3CA mutant cases, suggesting cooperation. Pathway analysis demonstrated that rare MAP2K4 mutations produce similar pathway perturbations as MAP3K1 mutation, a logical finding since MAP2K4 is a substrate for MAP3K1. Signaling network patterns driven by lncRNA MALAT1 mutations were associated with multiple poor clinical outcome features. Rare mutations in druggable kinases included two in the kinase domain of HER2. Conclusions: Tumor heterogeneity in luminal-type breast cancer is driven by specific patterns of somatic mutations, however most druggable or potentially prognostic mutations are infrequent. Prospective clinical trials based on these findings will require comprehensive genome sequencing approaches and large scale investigations.

504 Background: CYP2D6 genetic variants and concurrent administration of potent inhibitors (Inh) of the enzyme markedly reduce the plasma concentrations of endoxifen (Jin. JNCI 2005;97:30–9). We have shown that genetic variation in CYP2D6 is associated with a higher risk of relapse in Tam treated patients (pts) (Goetz. JCO 2005;23:9312–18), but the impact of CYP2D6 inhibition on Tam clinical outcome is unknown. Methods: Using the North Central Cancer Treatment Group 89–30–52 adjuvant Tam trial (1989–1994), we evaluated the effect of co-administration of CYP2D6 Inh and CYP2D6*4 genotype on relapse in pts receiving tam alone. Patient charts were reviewed at each randomizing site to record the following known CYP2D6 Inh: fluoxetine (F), paroxetine (P), sertraline (S), cimetidine (C), amiodarone (A), doxepin (D), ticlopidine (T) and haloperidol (H). Poor metabolizers (PM) were defined as pts who were CYP2D6 *4/*4 and/or known to receive a CYP2D6 Inh. Intermediate metabolizers (IM) were defined as WT/*4 without CYP2D6 Inh, and extensive metabolizers (EM) as WT/WT without CYP2D6 Inh. The association between CYP2D6 status and Tam clinical outcome was determined using the log-rank test. Multivariate Cox modeling was performed using traditional prognostic factors. Results: CYP2D6*4 genotype was obtained in 190 of 256 eligible pts, with a CYP2D6*4/*4 genotype frequency of 6.8% as described previously (Goetz JCO 2005). Medication history was available in 171/256 eligible pts and in 143/190 pts with CYP2D6 genotype. Eleven of 173 patients were concomitantly administered these CYP2D6 Inh: F(2), P(2), S(2), H(1), C(4), and D(1). The median duration of use was 2.5 yrs. Twenty-four pts met criteria for PM [13 by *4/*4 genotype and 11 by CYP2D6 Inh (7 WT/WT, 1 WT/*4, and 3 unknown genotype)], 21 for IM, and 102 for EM. Compared with either IM or EM, PMs had significantly worse time to recurrence and disease free survival in both the univariate (HR 2.5, p=0.02; and 2.2, p=0.01) and multivariate (HR 2.7, p=0.01; and HR 2.2 p=.02) analyses utilizing tumor size, nodal status, and tumor grade. Conclusion: Our data indicate that CYP2D6 status can be used to identify pts who should receive tam therapy and tam treated pts should not be co-administered potent CYP2D6 inhibitors. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

8565 Background: Previous studies using low-dose (250 ug/dose) aerosolized sargramostim (granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor: aero-GM-CSF) for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, revealed anecdotal clinical responses that appeared to correlate with an increase in the number of tumor specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in blood. Herein, we address whether or not further dose escalation of aero-GM-CSF is safe, results in greater increase of melanoma specific CTLs, and affects clinical outcomes. Methods: A 5+5 dose escalation clinical trial was conducted to determine the dose of aero-GM-CSF that would increase in the frequency of peripheral blood melanoma specific CTLs in HLA-A2+ patients with metastatic melanoma to the lungs. Aero-GM-CSF was administered twice daily on days 1–7 and 15–21 of a 28 day cycle at doses of: 500, 750, 1,000, 1,250, 1,500, 1,750, and 2,000 ug per cohort. If at most 2 of 5 patients at a dose level reported a 5-fold increase in CTLs, dose escalation occurred. If not, 5 additional patients were treated at that dose. Dose escalation continued until =2 of 5 patients at a dose level developed severe toxicity, at least 7 of the 10 patients at a dose level reported a 5-fold increase in CTLs, or all dose levels were exhausted. Results: The study accrued 40 patients from August 2002 to July 2006. Four patients cancelled participation prior to treatment. One patient was replaced (500 ug) as he died within 13 days of registration. Among the 35 remaining patients, median age was 58 (23–84), 72% were male, and 72% had a PS=0. Dose escalation was not terminated due to toxicity. Toxicities = grade 3 (at least probably treatment related) included: grade 3 fatigue (1) at 1,000 ug; and grade 3 cough (1), and grade 4 dyspnea (1) at 1,750 ug. At the 2,000 ug dose, most patients (4 of 5) exhibited a greater than 2-fold increase in melanoma specific CTLs. Two of these patients remain on treatment: one with partial response at 14.0 months and the other with stable disease at 6.5 months. A 5-fold increase in tumor specific CTLs was not achieved in any patient. Conclusions: Aero-GM-CSF therapy administered at up to 2,000 ug/dose appears safe and seems to correlate with increased frequencies of tumor specific CTLs in a dose-dependent fashion. Further dose escalation followed by clinical efficacy testing is warranted. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

512 Background: The joint efficacy analysis of NCCTG N9831 and NSABP B-31 demonstrated improved outcomes with the addition of trastuzumab (H) to doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by paclitaxel (T) in women with surgically removed HER2- positive breast cancer (NEJM 2005). Following this report, patients randomized to AC→T and less than 6 months from completion of chemotherapy were eligible to receive H. We have updated the initial combined results of these two trials. Methods: Primary and secondary efficacy endpoint were disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Cox modeling was performed. Hazard ratios are adjusted for nodal status, tumor size, T schedule, hormone receptor status, and trial (also age for OS). Results: Among the 3,969 women enrolled (ages: 22 to 80yrs), there have been 619 events (H group: 222, non-H: 397). First events were: recurrence (511), contralateral breast disease (18), other second primary cancers (48), and death without recurrence or second primary cancers (42). The median follow-up among the 3,711 women still alive is 2.9 years (range up to 6,4 years). The 4 yr DFS rate and 4 yr OS rate respectively were: 85.9% (95%CI: 84.0–87.8%) and 92.6% (95%CI: 91.2–94.2%) in H group and 73.1% (95%CI: 70.6–75.8%) and 89.4% (95%CI: 87.6–91.2%) in non- H group. Hazard ratio for adjuvant (H/non-H) was 0.49 (P<0.0001; 95%CI: 0.41–0.58) for DFS and 0.63 (P=0.0004; 95%CI: 0.49–0.81) for OS.The rates of a first event per 1,000 women/year during yrs 1–4 were: 26.7, 52.9, 49.6 and 23.2 for H and 42.3, 102.3, 107.6 and 61.5 for non-H. The impact of crossover on clinical outcome will be explored. Conclusions: With an increase in the median follow-up of 11 months and with 225 additional events, the demonstration of substantial improvement in outcomes with the addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy persist. This improvement continues in spite of some degree of cross-over occurring after the initial results were reported.Updated data regarding crossover outcomes and H duration (as they relate to disease free survival) will be presented. [Table: see text]

Abstract Purpose: To determine if the degree of estrogen suppression with aromatase inhibitors (AI: anastrozole, exemestane, letrozole) is associated with efficacy in early-stage breast cancer, and to examine for differences in the mechanism of action between the three AIs. Experimental Design: Matched case–control studies [247 matched sets from MA.27 (anastrozole vs. exemestane) and PreFace (letrozole) trials] were undertaken to assess whether estrone (E1) or estradiol (E2) concentrations after 6 months of adjuvant therapy were associated with risk of an early breast cancer event (EBCE). Preclinical laboratory studies included luciferase activity, cell proliferation, radio-labeled ligand estrogen receptor binding, surface plasmon resonance ligand receptor binding, and nuclear magnetic resonance assays. Results: Women with E1 ≥1.3 pg/mL and E2 ≥0.5 pg/mL after 6 months of AI treatment had a 2.2-fold increase in risk (P = 0.0005) of an EBCE, and in the anastrozole subgroup, the increase in risk of an EBCE was 3.0-fold (P = 0.001). Preclinical laboratory studies examined mechanisms of action in addition to aromatase inhibition and showed that only anastrozole could directly bind to estrogen receptor α (ERα), activate estrogen response element-dependent transcription, and stimulate growth of an aromatase-deficient CYP19A1−/− T47D breast cancer cell line. Conclusions: This matched case–control clinical study revealed that levels of estrone and estradiol above identified thresholds after 6 months of adjuvant anastrozole treatment were associated with increased risk of an EBCE. Preclinical laboratory studies revealed that anastrozole, but not exemestane or letrozole, is a ligand for ERα. These findings represent potential steps towards individualized anastrozole therapy.

Objectives:With the introduction of novel immune therapeutics for the treatment of disseminated malignancies, we sought to evaluate whether deliberate sequencing of immunotherapy before/after conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy would have an impact on clinical outcomes in patients with previously treated metastatic melanoma. We sought to evaluate whether or not ipilimumab immunotherapy administered before or after cytotoxic chemotherapy (nab-paclitaxel+bevacizumab, AB) would impact clinical outcomes.Methods:We conducted a randomized phase 2 clinical trial of patients with BRAF wild-type metastatic melanoma (up to 2 prior therapies) who received either: (A) AB followed by ipilimumab therapy at progression; or (B) ipilimumab followed by AB treatment at progression. The primary goal of the study was a comparison of AB versus ipilimumab progression-free survival, with secondary clinical and laboratory endpoints.Results:This study did not reach full accrual due to concurrent Food and Drug Administration approval of anti-programmed cell death 1 agents. Nevertheless, the available data suggests a cumulative therapeutic advantage to the sequential use of ipilimumab followed by AB. Correlative laboratory data revealed a favorable effect on systemic immune homeostasis in patients receiving AB therapy, of potential interest in further investigations, especially in the context of chemotherapy/immunotherapy combinations.Conclusion:Albeit limited in scope, our data suggest that cytotoxic therapy with nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab appear to favorably alter systemic parameters of immune function of potential benefit in combination T-cell directed immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Prior to the advent of the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab, human epidermal growth-factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) was associated with an aggressive clinical course and poor survival outcomes. In the era of effective HER2-directed therapies, median survival rates for patients with metastatic HER2+ BC now approach 5 years. Despite these improvements, the majority of affected patients unfortunately die from disease. Therapies to overcome treatment resistance are being actively pursued. One strategy has been to target the cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 (CDK4/6), as they are downstream of HER2 and many of the cellular pathways driving resistance to HER2-targeted therapies, and play a key role in proliferation by controlling transition through the G1 restriction point to the S phase of the cell cycle. In this article, we review the published literature with regard to the rationale for CDK4/6-directed therapies in HER2+ BC and discuss ongoing clinical research and new challenges in the field.

Abstract Background: The phase 3 double-blind, CALGB/Alliance 100104 study assessed the efficacy and safety of lenalidomide (LEN) or placebo maintenance therapy until relapse in post-autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) patients with newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Interim analyses demonstrated superiority for LEN versus placebo for time to progression (TTP), thus meeting the primary TTP endpoint of the trial. The study was unblinded in December 2009 and, based on the TTP and overall survival (OS) benefit observed with LEN, patients in the placebo arm (who had not yet progressed) at the time of unblinding were given the option of crossing over to receive LEN. Data have been reported for a follow-up of 91 months based on the planned intention to treat (ITT) analysis, yielding a TTP hazard ratio (HR) 0.57 and an OS difference of HR 0.61 (Holstein SA, et al. Lancet Haematol. 2017;4:e431-42). Crossover to active treatment enabled patients to benefit from LEN maintenance and collection of additional efficacy and safety data; however, crossover can confound the estimates of OS for longer follow-up. We report the results of an analysis adjusted for crossover, thus aiming to provide a more accurate estimate of the survival benefit achieved with LEN maintenance therapy. Methods: Results are reported for an analysis based on an updated data cutoff, post-October 2016. The rank-preserving structural failure time model (RPSFTM) was considered the most appropriate method to adjust for crossover (Robins JM, Tsiatis AA. Commun Stat Theory Methods. 1991;20:2609-31). This method requires that the assumption that the treatment effect is the same for patients who receive LEN at randomization as those who receive LEN as crossover treatment is not violated; a landmark analysis was performed to explore this. The iterative parameter estimation (IPE; Branson M, Whitehead J. Stat Med. 2002;21:2449-63) algorithm was used as validation. Both the RPSFTM and IPE analyses assume a residual LEN effect after discontinuation (base case). Results: A total of 76 NDMM patients who had not progressed, as determined by central adjudication, crossed over from placebo to LEN and were included in the analysis. The landmark analysis of OS from the date of unblinding indicated that the treatment effect for the crossover versus the non-crossover placebo group was HR 0.57 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-1.15) (Figure). This also provided a measure of the benefit of LEN maintenance in patients who started maintenance therapy after the trial-specified 90-100 day window post-ASCT (median 11.5 months post-randomization; range 3.2-51.0 months). Adjustment for crossover using the RPSFTM or IPE resulted in an increase in the relative treatment effect of LEN maintenance (vs placebo) on OS from 30.8 months for the ITT analysis (HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.47-0.81) to 40.1 months (HR 0.52; 95% CI 0.36-0.73) for the RPSFTM analysis and 38.8 months (HR 0.52; 95% CI 0.37-0.74) for the IPE analysis (Table). Results were consistent across the two methods. Discussion: This analysis was performed on an updated version of the data set reported in the Holstein article. Once we adjusted for crossover, depending on the methodology used, there was an additional gain of ~40 months of OS. Previously, a pre-planned, pooled meta-analysis of 3 studies that included CALGB/Alliance (McCarthy PL, et al J Clin Oncol. 2017;35:3279-89) indicated that the OS gain was 2.5 years; however, our analysis from the CALGB study alone shows that LEN maintenance may provide a survival benefit of > 3 years. In diseases where prolonged follow-up is required to demonstrate survival benefits, allowing patients to crossover to active treatment may be important to facilitate this. However, the results should be analyzed appropriately to enable assessment of the value of the therapy. As this analysis indicates, the value of active treatment may be underestimated if adjustment for crossover is not performed. In conclusion, the data reported here provide further insight into the survival benefits of LEN maintenance therapy post-ASCT and support guideline recommendations to offer LEN maintenance therapy to all patients post-ASCT. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U10CA180820; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00114101. Disclosures McCarthy: Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria. Richardson:Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Cooper:Celgene: Consultancy; BresMed Health Solutions Ltd: Employment. Saunders:Celgene: Consultancy; BresMed Health Solutions Ltd: Employment. Dhanasiri:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Anderson:Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Millennium Takeda: Consultancy; C4 Therapeutics: Equity Ownership, Other: Scientific founder; Celgene: Consultancy; OncoPep: Equity Ownership, Other: Scientific founder; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Stadtmauer:Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy. Holstein:Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.