Abraxane With or Without Tigatuzumab in Patients With Metastatic, Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American women. Metastatic disease including metastatic breast cancer unfortunately remains incurable. One reason is due to the inability to develop specific therapies for specific cancer subsets. The use of modern genomic techniques has significantly enhanced our recent understanding of breast cancer biology. Five distinct breast cancer subsets have been recognized, one of which is basal-like breast cancer. Basal-like breast cancer is typically estrogen receptor (ER) negative, progesterone receptor (PR) negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2-Neu) negative. This is referred to as triple negative breast cancer or TBNC. TBNC represents a significant proportion of breast cancer patients (10-20%) and has a poor prognosis with no targeted approach to therapy as of yet. Tigatuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting a death receptor on the breast cancer cells. Previous studies have shown that combining antibodies with selected chemotherapy agents have induced tumor cell death. The hypothesis of this study is to use tigatuzumab and combine it with Abraxane to serve as a targeting agent in metastatic TBNC patients.
ConditionBreast Cancer
Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Stage IV Breast Cancer
Metastatic Breast Cancer
InterventionDrug: Abraxane
Drug: Tigatuzumab
PhasePhase 2
SponsorUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
Responsible PartyUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT01307891
First ReceivedMarch 1, 2011
Last UpdatedJune 18, 2013
Last verifiedJune 2013

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateMarch 1, 2011
Last Updated DateJune 18, 2013
Start DateMarch 2011
Estimated Primary Completion DateMarch 2015
Current Primary Outcome MeasuresObjective response rate [Time Frame: Interim analysis will be conducted after 11 patients have been accrued and completed in each arm. Final analysis will be at the conclusion of the study: about 2 years.] [Designated as safety issue: No]The primary endpoint of this trial is the objective response rate as measured by complete responses and partial responses for the combination of tigatuzumab and Abraxane or Abraxane alone in patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer. This information will be used to generate hypotheses for further trials.
Current Secondary Outcome Measures
  • Characterization of the safety profile and treatment tolerance [Time Frame: An interim safety analysis will be done for the first 6 patients enrolled in the combination group. The study will be on hold at that time. Final toxicity and safety evaluation will be at the conclusion of the study: about 2 years.] [Designated as safety issue: Yes]The trial will allow for further characterization of the safety profile and treatment tolerance of tigatuzumab in combination with Abraxane.
  • Determine progression free survival [Time Frame: ~2 years] [Designated as safety issue: No]The study will allow determination of progression free survival for both groups.
  • Correlate the gene expression profile and the proliferation/apoptotic markers with disease responses observed from both groups of the study. [Time Frame: ~2 years] [Designated as safety issue: No]Correlate the pre-treatment tumor gene expression profile, DR5/DDX3/IAP profile, and proliferation/apoptotic with the objective response rate and progression free survival observed in both groups.
  • Correlate circulating tumor cells with the objective response rate and the progression free survival observed in both groups. [Time Frame: ~2 years] [Designated as safety issue: No]Correlate serial measures of circulating tumor cells with the objective response rate and progression free survival observed in both groups. Changes will also be observed in apoptosis marker staining in the circulating tumor cells and correlation will be made to the corresponding serum levels.
  • Characterize the immune response to tigatuzumab [Time Frame: ~2 years] [Designated as safety issue: No]Characterize patient immune response to tigatuzumab when administered in combination with Abraxane.
  • Evaluate the pharmacokinetics of the combined drugs (UAB only) [Time Frame: ~2 years] [Designated as safety issue: No]Determine the pharmacokinetics of tigatuzumab and Abraxane when given in combination. (This will be done only at UAB.)

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleAbraxane With or Without Tigatuzumab in Patients With Metastatic, Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Official TitleAn Open Label, Randomized, Phase II Trial of Abraxane (Paclitaxel Albumin-Bound Particles for Injectable Suspension), With or Without Tigatuzumab (a Humanized Monoclonal Antibody Targeting Death Receptor 5) in Patients With Metastatic, Triple Negative (ER, PR, and HER-2 Negative) Breast Cancer
Brief Summary
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer
deaths in American women. Metastatic disease including metastatic breast cancer
unfortunately remains incurable. One reason is due to the inability to develop specific
therapies for specific cancer subsets.

The use of modern genomic techniques has significantly enhanced our recent understanding of
breast cancer biology. Five distinct breast cancer subsets have been recognized, one of
which is basal-like breast cancer. Basal-like breast cancer is typically estrogen receptor
(ER) negative, progesterone receptor (PR) negative and human epidermal growth factor
receptor 2 (HER-2-Neu) negative. This is referred to as triple negative breast cancer or
TBNC. TBNC represents a significant proportion of breast cancer patients (10-20%) and has a
poor prognosis with no targeted approach to therapy as of yet.

Tigatuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting a death receptor on the breast
cancer cells. Previous studies have shown that combining antibodies with selected
chemotherapy agents have induced tumor cell death. The hypothesis of this study is to use
tigatuzumab and combine it with Abraxane to serve as a targeting agent in metastatic TBNC
patients.
Detailed Description
The study is an open-label randomized, multi-institutional, phase II clinical trial of
Abraxane in combination with tigatuzumab or Abraxane as a single agent in patients with
TNBC. Randomization (2:1) will be made from these two categories: TBNC patients with no
prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease or TBNC patients with prior taxane (except
Abraxane) therapy for metastatic disease. Patients randomized to Abraxane alone may be
allowed to cross over to the combination of Abraxane + tigatuzumab if there is disease
progression.
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhasePhase 2
Study DesignAllocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Condition
  • Breast Cancer
  • Triple Negative Breast Cancer
  • Stage IV Breast Cancer
  • Metastatic Breast Cancer
InterventionDrug: Abraxane
100 mg/m2 weekly X 3 doses (Days 1, 8, 15) at 28-day intervals until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Abraxane will be administered on an outpatient basis by an IV infusion over 30 minutes. Patients will be evaluated for response every 2 cycles (every 8 weeks).
Other Names:
Abraxane, also ABI-007Drug: Tigatuzumab
Tigatuzumab will be administered as a loading dose of 10 mg/kg on Day 1, then 5 mg/kg on Day 15 and then every other week on Days 1 and 15 of subsequent cycles. It will be given as an IV infusion over 60 minutes or less. No dose reductions will be allowed. Tigatuzumab will be administered in combination with the Abraxane according to the intervention described for it.
Other Names:
Tigatuzumab, CS-1008
Study Arm (s)
  • Experimental: Combination Abraxane and Tigatuzumab
    Patients will receive Abraxane at 100 mg/m2 X 3 doses on Days 1, 8, and 15 at 28-day intervals in combination with tigatuzumab to be administered as a 10 mg/kg loading dose followed by 5 mg/kg for the first cycle and then every other week on Days 1 and 15 for subsequent cycles. Patients will be evaluated for response every 8 weeks. Patients with disease progression will be taken off the study.
  • Experimental: Abraxane alone
    Patients will receive Abraxane at 100 mg/m2 weekly X 3 doses on Days 1, 8, and 15 at 28-day intervals. Treatment may continue without interruption in patients with complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or stable disease (SD) until there is progression of the disease or unacceptable toxicity. Patients will have the option to crossover to the combination arm based upon the pre-clinical data.

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusActive, not recruiting
Estimated Enrollment66
Estimated Completion DateMarch 2015
Estimated Primary Completion DateMarch 2014
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients must have pathologically documented Stage IV breast cancer. If blocks
(paraffin-embedded tissue) from original diagnosis are available, they will be
obtained to confirm the diagnosis and for correlative studies. Fifteen slides can be
obtained from the block if the block is not available to be sent or released.

- Tumor must be HER-2-neu negative (defined as 0 or 1+ staining by immunohistochemistry
or gene amplification ratio less than or equal to 2.0, by fluorescent in situ
hybridization - FISH), estrogen and progesterone receptors negative (<10%).

- Patients must have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be
accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded)

- Biopsy of a metastatic lesion is not required for protocol entry but all patients
with reasonably accessible lesions (chest wall, breast, skin, subcutaneous,
superficial lymph nodes, bones and liver metastases) must agree to biopsy.

1. Biopsies may be done with local anesthesia or intravenous conscious sedation,
according to standard institutional guidelines.

2. If a biopsy requires general anesthesia, then it is only allowed if acquisition
of tissue is necessary for clinical reasons and excess tissue that would
otherwise have been discarded is then used for research purposes. If a biopsy
requires general anesthesia, then a biopsy of that site for research purposes
only, without a coexisting clinical indication is not allowed on this protocol.

3. Patients with reasonably accessible lesions as described above, who will not
agree with the biopsy, will not be enrolled in the trial.

4. Patients with NO reasonably accessible lesions as described above can be
enrolled in the trial.

Prior Therapy:

- There is no restriction as to the number of prior regimens for metastatic disease as
long as patients have adequate performance status. Patients with no prior
chemotherapy for metastatic disease and patients who have received prior therapy with
taxanes for metastatic disease (taxol or taxotere) are eligible. Stratification will
be used for randomization of these two categories (no prior chemotherapy for
metastatic disease or prior taxane therapy for metastatic disease).

- Chemotherapy treatment prior to enrollment must be discontinued for at least 3 weeks
prior to study entry.

- Patients must have completed radiation therapy at least 7 days prior to beginning
protocol treatment.

- Patients must have recovered from all reversible toxicities related to prior therapy
before beginning protocol treatment, and may not have any pre- existing
treatment-related toxicities in excess of grade 1. Patients must have < grade 2
pre-existing peripheral neuropathy.

- Patients may receive bisphosphonates; however, if used, bone lesions may not be used
for progression or response.

- At least 18 years of age (19 in Alabama).

- Life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks.

- ECOG performance status < or equal to 2.

- Patients must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below:

- Absolute neutrophil count: > or equal to 1,500/mcL,

- Hemoglobin: > or equal to 9 mg/dL,

- Platelets: > or equal to 100,000/mcL,

- Total bilirubin: < or equal to 1.5 X institutional upper limit of normal,

- AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT): < or equal to 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal
without liver metastases, OR < or equal to 5 X institutional upper limit of
normal if documented liver metastases,

- Creatinine: < or equal to 2.0 mg/dL, OR calculated creatinine clearance greater
than or equal to 50 mL/min (calculated by the Cockcroft and Gault method).

- Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent
document.

- Both men and women are eligible.

- Use of an effective means of contraception in subjects of child-bearing potential.

- Negative serum or urine beta-HCG pregnancy test at screening for patients with
childbearing potential.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents.

- Prior use of Abraxane for metastatic disease or in the adjuvant setting.

- Metastatic lesions identifiable only by PET.

- Patients may not be receiving concurrent chemotherapy for treatment of metastatic
disease.

- Active brain metastases: evidence of progression < or equal to 3 months after local
therapy (patients should be asymptomatic and off corticosteroids and anticonvulsants
for at least 3 months prior to study entry).

- Patients with brain metastases must have at least one site of measurable disease
outside of the central nervous system.

- Uncontrolled concurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active
infection, history of recent myocardial infarction, symptomatic congestive heart
failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social
situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.

- Pregnant or lactating women are excluded. Because there is an unknown but potential
risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother,
breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated. These potential risks
may also apply to other agents used in this study.

- A prior invasive malignant disease within five years except for skin cancer (squamous
cell or basal cell carcinoma).

- Patients with known history of HIV or Hepatitis B because of potential for added
toxicity from treatment regimen.

- Dementia or altered mental status that would prohibit the understanding of informed
consent.
GenderBoth
Ages18 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsNot Provided
Location CountriesUnited States

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT01307891
Other Study ID NumbersF101004001 (UAB1028)
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeYes
Information Provided ByUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
Study SponsorUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
CollaboratorsSusan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Daiichi-Sankyo Pharma Development
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation
Investigators Principal Investigator: Andres Forero, M.D. University of Alabama at Birmingham
Verification DateJune 2013

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35294
Georgetown University Medical Center
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20007
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60637
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202
Dana Farber Cancer Center Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York, United States, 10065
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232
Baylor University
Houston, Texas, United States, 77030