MEDSIR presents promising results at SABCS 2023: ATRACTIB and DEBBRAH trials hold potential to improve the lives of advanced breast cancer patients

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Dec 08, 2023, 09:00 ET

The novel combination therapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab added to chemotherapy as first-line treatment in the ATRACTIB trial demonstrates significant antitumor activity in in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer
Cohort 5 of the DEBBRAH trial, reveals promising results, including a median overall survival of 13.3 months in patients with HER2[+] and HER2-low breast cancer with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis
These results bring renewed optimism providing a beacon of hope to patients confronting pressing medical challenges in these difficult-to-treat diseases

SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MEDSIR, a global leader in oncology research, today presented significant breakthroughs in the fight against aggressive breast cancer at the 46th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) that have the potential to transform the lives of breast cancer patients. The results from the ATRACTIB trial, focusing on advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and DEBBRAH Cohort 5, centered on HER2[+] or HER2-Low advanced breast cancer with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, offer new hope for patients with limited treatment alternatives.

ATRACTIB: Transforming the Landscape for TNBC Patients

This phase II clinical trial highlights the success of a combined therapy approach as a first-line treatment for advanced TNBC patients. Specifically, the combination of anti-PD-L1 atezolizumab and antiangiogenic bevacizumab with chemotherapy agent paclitaxel, demonstrated significant antitumor activity. This breakthrough holds particular significance since most of the patients included in this trial had PD-L1 negative tumors.

Dr. María Gion, Medical Oncologist at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital and first author of the study, presented the study's outcomes, revealing a median progression-free survival of 11 months—a substantial delay in cancer progression compared to previous data on similar patient populations—. Impressively, 63% of patients responded positively to the treatment, achieving 13 complete responses and 50 partial responses, with a median duration of response reaching 10 months. Notably, the clinical benefit was observed in 79% of patients.

In the trial, 100 adult patients with untreated advanced TNBC received intravenous atezolizumab, bevacizumab, and paclitaxel until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, death, or patient withdrawal. The safety considerations revealed that peripheral neuropathy (68%) and fatigue (62%) were the most common side effects. Grade 3/4 adverse events, occurred in 47% of patients, primarily peripheral neuropathy (13%) and neutropenia (12%). Importantly, there were no drug-related deaths.

The combination of immunotherapy, antiangiogenic therapy, and chemotherapy demonstrated a manageable safety profile and merits further research for PD-L1-negative advanced TNBC patients.

DEBBRAH Cohort 5: Shaping the future for HER2[+] and HER2-Low Advanced Breast Cancer with Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis

The DEBBRAH trial, focusing on HER2[+] or HER2-Low advanced breast cancer patients with brain metastases and/or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, showcased promising results from Cohort 5, which specifically included patients with pathologically confirmed leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. This rare but serious complication occurs in approximately 10% of advanced breast cancer patients and is associated with poor outcomes and limited therapeutic options. Currently, there are no specific drugs approved for metastatic breast cancer patients with brain metastases and/or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, and there is no consensus on how to manage these cases.

This trial was designed to address this gap in knowledge, aiming to investigate whether an antibody-drug conjugate called trastuzumab deruxtecan, which has shown promise in treating breast cancer that has spread to the brain and elsewhere in the body, can help improve the treatment for this specific group of patients. The antibody-drug conjugate, under evaluation demonstrated notable activity with no new safety concerns. The results of the Cohort 5, which included 7 patients, were presented by Dr. Marta Vaz, Medical Oncologist at Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, showing a remarkable median overall survival of 13.3 months, meeting the primary endpoint. Five patients (71.4%) experienced prolonged disease stabilization for at least 24 weeks, and the median progression-free survival was 8.9 months. The safety profile was consistent with previous studies.

The results of the DEBBRAH trial are extremely interesting and suggest that leptomeningeal carcinomatosis may become a more treatable condition with the introduction of new antibody-drug conjugates targeting HER2. These encouraging data warrant further investigation to address the unmet need in this difficult-to-treat disease.

ABOUT ATRACTIB

The ATRACTIB phase II study explored a combined treatment approach for advanced triple-negative breast cancer (a type of breast cancer characterized by the fact that the cancer cells don't have estrogen or progesterone receptors, and do not have any or much of a protein called Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2). The trial evaluated the first-line therapy atezolizumab (an immunotherapy drug), bevacizumab (an antiangiogenic drug), and paclitaxel (a chemotherapy agent) in a cohort of 100 patients, regardless of their PD-L1 tumor expression. Primarily, the study looked at progression-free survival, or how long the disease remained stable. Secondly, it also assessed overall survival, response to treatment, and safety. The results were encouraging, showing that this combination treatment had a positive impact on advanced TNBC patients, even when tumors didn't express PD-L1. Additionally, the safety profile of the treatment was consistent with what was known from previous studies.

ABOUT DEBBRAH

The DEBBRAH phase II trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with HER2[+] and HER2-low advanced breast cancer (meaning that tumors were characterized by the presence of either high or low levels of HER2 protein) with a history of brain metastases and/or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Patients were enrolled into one of five cohorts based on the HER2 protein level and type of central nervous system involvement. At SABCS 2023, results of Cohort 5 were presented, which specifically included 7 patients with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. The main objective for this cohort was to measure the overall survival, or amount of time from the start of the treatment until death from any cause. With a median follow-up of 12 months (range, 2.5-18.6), results showed that treatment with trastuzumab deruxtecan led to a remarkable median overall survival of 13.3 months, meeting the primary endpoint. Five (71.4%) patients experienced a prolonged stabilization of their disease for at least 24 weeks, and the median time before their disease worsened again (known as progression free survival), was 8.9 months.

ABOUT MEDSIR

Founded in 2012, MEDSIR works closely with its partners to drive innovation in oncology research. Based in Spain and the United States, the company manages all aspects of clinical trials, from study design to publication, utilizing a global network of experts and integrated technology to streamline the process.

The company offers proof-of-concept support and a strategic approach that helps research partners experience the best of both worlds from industry-based clinical research and investigator-driven trials. To promote independent cancer research worldwide, MEDSIR has a strategic alliance with Oncoclínicas, the leading oncology group in Brazil with the greatest research potential in South America. Learn how MEDSIR brings ideas to life: www.medsir.org.

ABOUT SABCS

San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), hosts about 10,000 clinicians and scientists from all over the world and is the largest and most prestigious scientific gathering on breast cancer research.

SOURCE MEDSIR