A Phase II Randomized Study of Lapatinib Combined With Capecitabine, Vinorelbine, or Gemcitabine in Patients With HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer With Progression After a Taxane (Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group 0801 Study)

Clin Breast Cancer. 2016 Feb;16(1):38-44. doi: 10.1016/j.clbc.2015.10.005. Epub 2015 Nov 10.

Abstract

Background: Novel targeted agents and combinations have become available in multiple lines of treatment for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2(+)) metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In this context, alternatives to the lapatinib (L) and capecitabine (C) regimen, evaluating L combined with other cytotoxic drugs, are warranted.

Patients and methods: In the present phase II, multicenter study, patients with HER2(+) MBC with progression after taxane were randomized between L, 1250 mg, combined with C, 2000 mg/m(2) on days 1 to 14 (LC), vinorelbine (V), 25 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 (LV), or gemcitabine (G), 1000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 (LG), every 21 days. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate.

Results: A total of 142 patients were included from 2009 to 2012. No differences were found in the patient baseline characteristics. The median age was 51 years, 69% were postmenopausal, 32% had liver metastasis, 57% were hormone receptor negative, and 48% had been previously treated with trastuzumab. The overall response rate was 49% (95% confidence interval [CI], 34.8%-63.4%), 56% (95% CI, 40%-70.4%), and 41% (95% CI, 27%-56.8%) in the LC, LV, and LG groups, respectively. The median progression-free survival was 9 months in the LC arm and 7 months in the other 2 arms (P = .28). The most common grade 3 and 4 adverse events were hand-foot syndrome (18%), diarrhea (6%), and increased alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (4%) in the LC arm; neutropenia (36%), diarrhea (9%), and febrile neutropenia (6%) in the LV arm; and neutropenia (47%), alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (13%), and rash (4%) in the LG arm.

Conclusion: LV and LG seem to be active combinations in patients with HER2(+) MBC after taxane failure. The overall toxicity was manageable in all regimens.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive; Lapatinib; Metastatic breast cancer; Treatment outcome.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Capecitabine / administration & dosage
  • Capecitabine / adverse effects
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / adverse effects
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Disease Progression
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lapatinib
  • Middle Aged
  • Quinazolines / administration & dosage
  • Quinazolines / adverse effects
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / biosynthesis
  • Salvage Therapy / methods*
  • Taxoids / therapeutic use
  • Vinblastine / administration & dosage
  • Vinblastine / adverse effects
  • Vinblastine / analogs & derivatives
  • Vinorelbine
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Quinazolines
  • Taxoids
  • Lapatinib
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Vinblastine
  • Capecitabine
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Vinorelbine
  • Gemcitabine