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Published Articles


Article 1

Title

Trastuzumab Plus Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Breast Cancer: Planned Joint Analysis of Overall Survival From NSABP B-31 and NCCTG N9831

Authors

Edith A. Perez, Edward H. Romond, Vera J. Suman, Jong-Hyeon Jeong, George Sledge, Charles E. Geyer JrSilvana Martino, Priya Rastogi, Julie Gralow, Sandra M. Swain, Eric P. Winer, Gerardo Colon-Otero, Nancy E. Davidson, Eleftherios Mamounas, Jo Anne Zujewski, Norman Wolmark

Introduction

Positive interim analysis findings from four large adjuvant trials evaluating trastuzumab in patients with early-stage human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) –positive breast cancer were first reported in 2005. One of these reports, the joint analysis of North Central Cancer Treatment Group NCCTG N9831 (Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Trastuzumab in Treating Women With HER2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer) and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project NSABP B-31 (Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide Plus Paclitaxel With or Without Trastuzumab in Treating Women With Node-Positive Breast Cancer That Overexpresses HER2), was updated in 2011. We now report the planned definitive overall survival (OS) results from this joint analysis along with updates on the disease-free survival (DFS) end point.

Methods

In all, 4,046 patients with HER2-positive operable breast cancer were enrolled to receive doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel with or without trastuzumab in both trials. The required number of events for the definitive statistical analysis for OS (710 events) was reached in September 2012. Updated analyses of overall DFS and related subgroups were also performed.

Results

Median time on study was 8.4 years. Adding trastuzumab to chemotherapy led to a 37% relative improvement in OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.73; P < .001) and an increase in 10-year OS rate from 75.2% to 84%. These results were accompanied by an improvement in DFS of 40% (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.68; P < .001) and increase in 10-year DFS rate from 62.2% to 73.7%. All patient subgroups benefited from addition of this targeted anti-HER2 agent.

Conclusions

The addition of trastuzumab to paclitaxel after doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide in early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer results in a substantial and durable improvement in survival as a result of a sustained marked reduction in cancer recurrence.

Reference

Perez EA, Romond EH, Suman VJ, Jeong J-H, Sledge G, Geyer CE, et al. Trastuzumab Plus Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Breast Cancer: Planned Joint Analysis of Overall Survival From NSABP B-31 and NCCTG N9831. JCO. 2014 Oct 20;32(33):3744–52.



Article 2

Title

11 years’ follow-up of trastuzumab after adjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-positive early breast cancer: final analysis of the HERceptin Adjuvant (HERA) trial

Authors

David Cameron, Martine J Piccart-Gebhart, Richard D Gelber, Marion Procter, Aron Goldhirsch, Evandro de Azambuja, Gilberto Castro Jr, Michael Untch, Ian Smith, Luca Gianni, Jose Baselga, Nedal Al-Sakaff, Sabine Lauer, Eleanor McFadden, Brian Leyland-Jones, Richard Bell, Mitch Dowsett, Christian Jackisch, Herceptin Adjuvant (HERA) Trial Study Team

Introduction

Clinical trials have shown that trastuzumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody against HER2 receptor, significantly improves overall survival and disease-free survival in women with HER2-positive early breast cancer, but long-term follow-up data are needed. We report the results of comparing observation with two durations of trastuzumab treatment at a median follow-up of 11 years, for patients enrolled in the HERA (HERceptin Adjuvant) trial.

Methods

HERA (BIG 1-01) is an international, multicentre, open-label, phase 3 randomised trial of 5102 women with HER2-positive early breast cancer, who were enrolled from hospitals in 39 countries between Dec 7, 2001, and June 20, 2005. After completion of all primary therapy (including, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy as indicated), patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive trastuzumab for 1 year (once at 8 mg/kg of bodyweight intravenously, then 6 mg/kg once every 3 weeks) or for 2 years (with the same dose schedule), or to the observation group. Primary endpoint is disease-free survival, and analyses are in the intention-to-treat population. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated from Cox models, and survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Comparison of 2 years versus 1 year of trastuzumab is based on 366-day landmark analyses.

Results

Of the 5102 women randomly assigned in the HERA trial, three patients had no evidence of having provided written informed consent to participate. We followed up the intention-to-treat population of 5099 patients (1697 in observation, 1702 in 1-year trastuzumab, and 1700 in 2-years trastuzumab groups). After a median follow-up of 11 years (IQR 10·09–11·53), random assignment to 1 year of trastuzumab significantly reduced the risk of a disease-free survival event (HR 0·76, 95% CI 0·68–0·86) and death (0·74, 0·64–0·86) compared with observation. 2 years of adjuvant trastuzumab did not improve disease free-survival outcomes compared with 1 year of this drug (HR 1·02, 95% CI 0·89–1·17). Estimates of 10-year disease-free survival were 63% for observation, 69% for 1 year of trastuzumab, and 69% for 2 years of trastuzumab. 884 (52%) patients assigned to the observation group selectively crossed over to receive trastuzumab. Cardiac toxicity remained low in all groups and occurred mostly during the treatment phase. The incidence of secondary cardiac endpoints was 122 (7·3%) in the 2-years trastuzumab group, 74 (4·4%) in the 1-year trastuzumab group, and 15 (0·9%) in the observation group.

Conclusions

1 year of adjuvant trastuzumab after chemotherapy for patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer significantly improves long-term disease-free survival, compared with observation. 2 years of trastuzumab had no additional benefit.

Reference

Cameron D, Piccart-Gebhart MJ, Gelber RD, Procter M, Goldhirsch A, Azambuja E de, et al. 11 years’ follow-up of trastuzumab after adjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-positive early breast cancer: final analysis of the HERceptin Adjuvant (HERA) trial. The Lancet. 2017 Mar 25;389(10075):1195–205.



Article 3 

Title

CT-P6 compared with reference trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer: a randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, phase 3 equivalence trial

Authors

Justin Stebbing, Yauheni Baranau, Valeriy Baryash, Alexey Manikhas, Vladimir Moiseyenko, Giorgi Dzagnidze, Edvard Zhavrid, Dmytro Boliukh, Daniil Stroyakovskii, Joanna Pikiel, Alexandru Eniu, Dmitry Komov, Gabriela Morar-Bolba, Rubi K Li, Andriy Rusyn, Sang Joon Lee, Sung Young Lee, Francisco J Esteva

Introduction

CT-P6 is a proposed biosimilar to reference trastuzumab. In this study, we aimed to establish equivalence of CT-P6 to reference trastuzumab in neoadjuvant treatment of HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer.

Methods

In this randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, phase 3 equivalence trial, we recruited women aged 18 years or older with stage I-IIIa operable HER2-positive breast cancer from 112 centres in 23 countries. Inclusion criteria were an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0 or 1; a normal left ventricular ejection fraction of at least 55%; adequate bone marrow, hepatic, and renal function; at least one measureable lesion; and known oestrogen and progesterone receptor status. Exclusion criteria included bilateral breast cancer, previous breast cancer treatment, previous anthracycline treatment, and pregnancy or lactation. We randomly allocated patients 1:1 to receive neoadjuvant CT-P6 or reference trastuzumab intravenously (eight cycles, each lasting 3 weeks, for 24 weeks; 8 mg/kg on day 1 of cycle 1 and 6 mg/kg on day 1 of cycles 2-8) in conjunction with neoadjuvant docetaxel (75 mg/m2 on day 1 of cycles 1-4) and FEC (fluorouracil [500 mg/m2], epirubicin [75 mg/m2], and cyclophosphamide [500 mg/m2]; day 1 of cycles 5-8) therapy. We stratified randomisation by clinical stage, receptor status, and country and used permuted blocks. We did surgery within 3-6 weeks of the final neoadjuvant study drug dose, followed by an adjuvant treatment period of up to 1 year. We monitored long-term safety and efficacy for 3 years after the last patient was enrolled. Participants and investigators were masked to treatment until study completion. The primary efficacy endpoint, analysed in the per-protocol population, was pathological complete response, assessed via specimens obtained during surgery, analysed by masked central review of local histopathology reports. The equivalence margin was -0·15 to 0·15.

Results

Between Aug 7, 2014, and May 6, 2016, we randomly allocated 549 patients (271 [49%] to CT-P6 vs 278 [51%] to reference trastuzumab). A similar proportion of patients achieved pathological complete response with CT-P6 (116 [46·8%; 95% CI 40·4-53·2] of 248 patients) and reference trastuzumab (129 [50·4%; 44·1-56·7] of 256 patients). The 95% CI of the estimated treatment outcome difference (-0·04% [95% CI -0·12 to 0·05]) was within the equivalence margin. 19 (7%) of 271 patients in the CT-P6 group reported serious treatment-emergent adverse events versus 22 (8%) of 278 in the reference trastuzumab group; frequent (occurring in more than one patient) serious adverse events were febrile neutropenia (four [1%] vs one [<1%]) and neutropenia (one [<1%] vs two [1%]). Grade 3 or worse treatment-related adverse events occurred in 17 (6%) of 271 patients in the CT-P6 group versus 23 (8%) of 278 in the reference trastuzumab group; the most frequently reported adverse event was neutropenia in ten (4%) versus 14 (5%).

Interpretations

CT-P6 showed equivalent efficacy to reference trastuzumab and adverse events were similar. Availability of trastuzumab biosimilars could increase access to this targeted therapy for HER2-positive early-stage cancer.

Reference

Stebbing J, Baranau Y, Baryash V, Manikhas A, Moiseyenko V, Dzagnidze G, et al. CT-P6 compared with reference trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer: a randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, phase 3 equivalence trial. Lancet Oncol. 2017 Jul;18(7):917–28.



Article 4

Title

Effect of Adjuvant Trastuzumab for a Duration of 9 Weeks vs 1 Year With Concomitant Chemotherapy for Early Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Breast Cancer: The SOLD Randomized Clinical Trial

Authors

Heikki Joensuu, Judith Fraser, Hans Wildiers, Riikka Huovinen , Päivi Auvinen, Meri Utriainen, Paul Nyandoto, Kenneth K Villman, Päivi Halonen, Helena Granstam-Björneklett, Lotta Lundgren, Liisa Sailas, Taina Turpeenniemi-Hujane, Minna Tanner, Jeffrey Yachnin, Diana Ritchie, Oskar Johansson, Teppo Huttunen, Patrick Neven, Peter Canney, Vernon J Harvey, Pirkko-Liisa Kellokumpu-Lehtinen, Henrik Lindman

Introduction

Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy is the standard adjuvant treatment for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive early breast cancer. While the standard duration of trastuzumab treatment is 12 months, the benefits and harms of trastuzumab continued beyond the chemotherapy are unclear.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjuvant trastuzumab continued beyond chemotherapy in women treated with up-front chemotherapy containing a taxane and trastuzumab.

Methods

Open-label, randomized (1:1) clinical trial including women with HER2-positive breast cancer. Chemotherapy was identical in the 2 groups, consisting of 3 cycles of 3-weekly docetaxel (either 80 or 100 mg/m2) plus trastuzumab for 9 weeks, followed by 3 cycles of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide. Thereafter, no trastuzumab was administered in the 9-week group, whereas controls received trastuzumab to complete 1 year of administration. Disease-free survival (DFS) was compared between the groups using a Cox model and the noninferiority approach. The estimated sample size was 2168 patients (1-sided testing, with a relative noninferiority margin of 1.3). From January 3, 2008, to December 16, 2014, 2176 patients were accrued from 7 countries.

Intervention

Docetaxel plus trastuzumab for 9 weeks, followed by 3 cycles of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide in both groups. Controls continued trastuzumab to 1 year.

Results

In the 2174 women analyzed, median age was 56 (interquartile range [IQR], 48-64) years. The median follow-up was 5.2 (IQR, 3.8-6.7) years. Noninferiority of the 9-week treatment could not be demonstrated for DFS (hazard ratio, 1.39; 2-sided 90% CI, 1.12-1.72). Distant disease–free survival and overall survival did not differ substantially between the groups. Thirty-six (3%) and 21 (2%) patients in the 1-year and the 9-week groups, respectively, had cardiac failure; the left ventricle ejection fraction was better maintained in the 9-week group. An interaction was detected between the docetaxel dose and DFS; patients in the 9-week group treated with 80 mg/m2 had inferior and those treated with 100 mg/m2 had similar DFS as patients in the 1-year group.

Interpretations

Nine weeks of trastuzumab was not noninferior to 1 year of trastuzumab when given with similar chemotherapy. Cardiac safety was better in the 9-week group. The docetaxel dosing with trastuzumab requires further study.

Reference

Joensuu H, Fraser J, Wildiers H, Huovinen R, Auvinen P, Utriainen M, et al. Effect of Adjuvant Trastuzumab for a Duration of 9 Weeks vs 1 Year With Concomitant Chemotherapy for Early Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Breast Cancer: The SOLD Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2018 Sep 1;4(9):1199.



Article 5

Title

6 versus 12 months of adjuvant trastuzumab for HER-2 positive early breast cancer (PERSEPHONE): 4-year disease-free survival results of a randomised phase 3 non-inferiority trial

Authors

Helena M Earl, Louise Hiller, Anne-Laure Vallier, Shrushma Loi, Karen McAdam, Luke Hughes-Davies, Adrian N Harnett, Mei-Lin Ah-See, Richard Simcock, Daniel Rea, Sanjay Raj, Pamela Woodings, Mark Harries, Donna Howe, Kerry Raynes, Helen B Higgins, Maggie Wilcox, Chris Plummer, Janine Mansi, Ioannis Gounaris, Betania Mahler-Araujo, Elena Provenzano, Anita Chhabra, Jean E Abraham, Carlos Caldas, Peter S Hall, Christopher McCabe, Claire Hulme, David Miles, Andrew M Wardley, David A Cameron, Janet A Dunn, PERSEPHONE Steering Committee and Trial Investigators

Introduction

Adjuvant trastuzumab significantly improves outcomes for patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer. The standard treatment duration is 12 months but shorter treatment could provide similar efficacy while reducing toxicities and cost. We aimed to investigate whether 6-month adjuvant trastuzumab treatment is non-inferior to the standard 12-month treatment regarding disease-free survival.

Methods

This study is an open-label, randomised phase 3 non-inferiority trial. Patients were recruited from 152 centres in the UK. We randomly assigned patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer, aged 18 years or older, and with a clear indication for chemotherapy, by a computerised minimisation process (1:1), to receive either 6-month or 12-month trastuzumab delivered every 3 weeks intravenously (loading dose of 8 mg/kg followed by maintenance doses of 6 mg/kg) or subcutaneously (600 mg), given in combination with chemotherapy (concurrently or sequentially). The primary endpoint was disease-free survival, analysed by intention to treat, with a non-inferiority margin of 3% for 4-year disease-free survival. Safety was analysed in all patients who received trastuzumab.

Results

Between Oct 4, 2007, and July 31, 2015, 2045 patients were assigned to 12-month trastuzumab treatment and 2044 to 6-month treatment (one patient was excluded because they were double randomised). Median follow-up was 5·4 years (IQR 3·6–6·7) for both treatment groups, during which a disease-free survival event occurred in 265 (13%) of 2043 patients in the 6-month group and 247 (12%) of 2045 patients in the 12-month group. 4-year disease-free survival was 89·4% (95% CI 87·9–90·7) in the 6-month group and 89·8% (88·3–91·1) in the 12-month group (hazard ratio 1·07 [90% CI 0·93–1·24], non-inferiority p=0·011), showing non-inferiority of the 6-month treatment. 6-month trastuzumab treatment resulted in fewer patients reporting severe adverse events (373 [19%] of 1939 patients vs 459 [24%] of 1894 patients, p=0·0002) or stopping early because of cardiotoxicity (61 [3%] of 1939 patients vs 146 [8%] of 1894 patients, p<0·0001).

Conclusions

We have shown that 6-month trastuzumab treatment is non-inferior to 12-month treatment in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer, with less cardiotoxicity and fewer severe adverse events. These results support consideration of reduced duration trastuzumab for women at similar risk of recurrence as to those included in the trial.

Reference

Earl HM, Hiller L, Vallier A-L, Loi S, McAdam K, Hughes-Davies L, et al. 6 versus 12 months of adjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive early breast cancer (PERSEPHONE): 4-year disease-free survival results of a randomised phase 3 non-inferiority trial. The Lancet. 2019 Jun 29;393(10191):2599–612.



Article 6

Title

Efficacy and safety of CT-P6 versus reference trastuzumab in HER2-positive early breast cancer: updated results of a randomised phase 3 trial

Authors

F J Esteva, Y V Baranau, V Baryash, A Manikhas, V Moiseyenko, G Dzagnidze, E Zhavrid, D Boliukh, D Stroyakovskiy, J Pikiel, A E Eniu, R K Li, A V Rusyn, B Tiangco, S J Lee, S Young Lee, S Y Yu, J Stebbing

Introduction

Neoadjuvant CT-P6, a trastuzumab biosimilar, demonstrated equivalent efficacy to reference trastuzumab in a phase 3 trial of HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer (EBC). We report post hoc analyses evaluating pathological complete response (pCR) and breast pCR alongside additional efficacy and safety measures.

Methods

Following neoadjuvant treatment and surgery, patients received adjuvant CT-P6 or trastuzumab (6 mg/kg) every 3 weeks for ≤ 1 year.

Results

Following neoadjuvant treatment and surgery, patients received adjuvant CT-P6 or trastuzumab (6 mg/kg) every 3 weeks for ≤ 1 year.

Conclusions

Adjuvant CT-P6 demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety to trastuzumab at 1 year in patients with HER2-positive EBC, supporting CT-P6 and trastuzumab comparability.

Reference

Esteva FJ, Baranau YV, Baryash V, Manikhas A, Moiseyenko V, Dzagnidze G, et al. Efficacy and safety of CT-P6 versus reference trastuzumab in HER2-positive early breast cancer: updated results of a randomised phase 3 trial. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2019 Oct;84(4):839–47.



Article 7

Title

3-year follow-up of a phase III trial comparing the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant and adjuvant trastuzumab and its biosimilar CT-P6 in HER2 positive early breast cancer (EBC)

Authors

J. Stebbing, Y. Baranau, V. Baryash, A. Manikhas, V. Moiseyenko, G. Dzagnidze, E. Zhavrid, D. Boliukh, D. Stroyakovskiy, J. Pikiel, A. Eniu, D. Komov, S.J. Lee, M.J. Kim, S. Kim, S. Park, J.H. Bae, F.J. Esteva

Introduction

CT-P6 was approved by both US FDA and European Commission as a biosimilar to reference trastuzumab (RTZ). Here we report updated long term efficacy and safety.

Methods

549 patients with HER2 positive EBC were randomized 1:1 to CT-P6 (n = 271) or RTZ (n = 278) with docetaxel (Cycles 1-4) and 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (Cycles 5-8). After surgery, patients received CT-P6 or RTZ monotherapy to complete a total of 1 year and were followed up to 3 years from enrolment of the last patient. Stratified Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier methods were used for time to event (TTE) analyses.

Results

528 patients (259 in CT-P6 and 269 in RTZ) were followed up. The median duration of follow-up was 39 months. Overall, the rates of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were similar between CT-P6 and RTZ in both PPS and ITT set. The number of DFS events (42 [16.3%] in CT-P6 and 36 [13.8%] in RTZ) and OS events (18 [6.6%] in CT-P6 and 18 [6.5%] in RTZ) were comparable in ITT set. Median DFS and OS have not been reached due to an insufficient number of events. The mean LVEF was more than 60% in both groups, and no new cases of heart failure were reported during the follow-up period.

Conclusions

DFS and OS rates and cardiotoxicity at a median follow-up of 39 months support the similarity of CT-P6 and reference trastuzumab in early-stage breast cancer.

Reference

Stebbing J, Baranau Y, Baryash V, Manikhas A, Moiseyenko V, Dzagnidze G, et al. 3-year follow-up of a phase III trial comparing the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant and adjuvant trastuzumab and its biosimilar CT-P6 in HER2 positive early breast cancer (EBC). Annals of Oncology. 2019 Oct 1;30:v63–4.



Article 8

Title

Effect of a Proposed Trastuzumab Biosimilar Compared With Trastuzumab on Overall Response Rate in Patients With ERBB2 (HER2)-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Authors

Hope S Rugo, Abhijit Barve, Cornelius F Waller, Miguel Hernandez-Bronchud, Jay Herson, Jinyu Yuan, Rajiv Sharma, Mark Baczkowski, Mudgal Kothekar, Subramanian Loganathan, Alexey Manikhas, Igor Bondarenko, Guzel Mukhametshina, Gia Nemsadze, Joseph D Parra, Maria Luisa T Abesamis-Tiambeng, Kakhaber Baramidze, Charuwan Akewanlop, Ihor Vynnychenko, Virote Sriuranpong, Gopichand Mamillapalli, Sirshendu Ray, Eduardo P Yanez Ruiz, Eduardo Penella, Heritage Study Investigators

Introduction

Treatment with the anti-ERBB2 humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab and chemotherapy significantly improves outcome in patients with ERBB2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer; a clinically effective biosimilar may help increase access to this therapy.

Objective

To compare the overall response rate and assess the safety of a proposed trastuzumab biosimilar plus a taxane or trastuzumab plus a taxane in patients without prior treatment for ERBB2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Methods

Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, phase 3 equivalence study in patients with metastatic breast cancer. From December 2012 to August 2015, 500 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive a proposed biosimilar or trastuzumab plus a taxane. Chemotherapy was administered for at least 24 weeks followed by antibody alone until unacceptable toxic effects or disease progression occurred.

Interventions

Proposed biosimilar (n = 230) or trastuzumab (n = 228) with a taxane.

Main outcomes and measures

The primary outcome was week 24 overall response rate (ORR) defined as complete or partial response. Equivalence boundaries were 0.81 to 1.24 with a 90% CI for ORR ratio (proposed biosimilar/trastuzumab) and -15% to 15% with a 95% CI for ORR difference. Secondary outcome measures included time to tumor progression, progression-free and overall survival at week 48, and adverse events.

Results

Among 500 women randomized, the intention-to-treat population included 458 women (mean [SD] age, 53.6 [11.11] years) and the safety population included 493 women. The ORR was 69.6% (95% CI, 63.62%-75.51%) for the proposed biosimilar vs 64.0% (95% CI, 57.81%-70.26%) for trastuzumab. The ORR ratio (1.09; 90% CI, 0.974-1.211) and ORR difference (5.53; 95% CI, -3.08 to 14.04) were within the equivalence boundaries. At week 48, there was no statistically significant difference with the proposed biosimilar vs trastuzumab for time to tumor progression (41.3% vs 43.0%; -1.7%; 95% CI, -11.1% to 6.9%), progression-free survival (44.3% vs 44.7%; -0.4%; 95% CI, -9.4% to 8.7%), or overall survival (89.1% vs 85.1%; 4.0%; 95% CI, -2.1% to 10.3%). In the proposed biosimilar and trastuzumab groups, 239 (98.6%) and 233 (94.7%) had at least 1 adverse event, the most common including neutropenia (57.5% vs 53.3%), peripheral neuropathy (23.1% vs 24.8%), and diarrhea (20.6% vs 20.7%).

Conclusions

Among women with ERBB2-positive metastatic breast cancer receiving taxanes, the use of a proposed trastuzumab biosimilar compared with trastuzumab resulted in an equivalent overall response rate at 24 weeks. Further study is needed to assess safety and long-term clinical outcome.

Reference

Rugo HS, Barve A, Waller CF, Hernandez-Bronchud M, Herson J, Yuan J, et al. Effect of a Proposed Trastuzumab Biosimilar Compared With Trastuzumab on Overall Response Rate in Patients With ERBB2 (HER2)-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2017 Jan 3;317(1):37–47.



Article 9

Title

Overall Survival Benefit from Trastuzumab-Based Treatment in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis

Authors

Lv S., Wang Y., Sun T., Wan D., Sheng L., Li W., Zhu H., Li Y., Lu J.

Introduction

The purposes of our study were to compare the clinical outcomes of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients with or without trastuzumab treatment and HER2-negative patients, and to explore factors that might predict the survival benefit associated with trastuzumab treatment in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Methods

A total of 421 patients with mBC were analyzed in this retrospective study. All patients had first-line chemotherapy with or without trastuzumab. They were classified into 3 groups according to their HER2 status and trastuzumab treatment: HER2-positive mBC patients with or without trastuzumab treatment and HER2-negative patients.

Results

Trastuzumab administration in HER2-positive mBC patients significantly prolonged overall survival (33 vs. 26 months; P = 0.003) and led to a 49.8% reduction in death risk. In the subgroup analysis, HER2-positive patients with hormone receptor (HR)-negative status (29 vs. 17 months; P = 0.000) or visceral metastasis (30 vs. 21 months; P = 0.000) had more survival benefit when treated with trastuzumab.

Conclusions

Trastuzumab administration significantly improved the overall survival in HER2-positive mBC patients, who gained a prognosis comparable to that of patients with HER2-negative disease. HR status and metastasis site might be important surrogate makers that predict survival benefit from trastuzumab-based treatment.

Reference

Lv S, Wang Y, Sun T, Wan D, Sheng L, Li W, et al. Overall Survival Benefit from Trastuzumab-Based Treatment in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis. ORT. 2018;41(7–8):450–5.


Last Update: 03/09/2021