Background

Intermediate biopsies during neoadjuvant treatment might offer opportunities for prediction of pathological complete response (pCR) and patient outcome, which could be a basis for de-escalation of treatment. However, their relevance for clinical decisions is not clear.

Methods

We evaluated intermediate biopsies that were taken during neoadjuvant treatment from 297 patients with invasive breast cancer from three prospective, randomized trials (GeparQuattro, -Quinto, -Sixto). We evaluated the presence of invasive breast cancer, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and Ki-67 expression and compared the results to pre-treatment samples. We explored the association of residual cancer in the intermediate biopsies as well as dynamics in Ki-67 and TILs with pCR rates and disease-free survival.

Results

Of the 297 tumors, 87 (29%) samples were triple-negative (TNBC), 138 (46%) HR+/HER2- and 72 (24%) HER2+. We found invasive tumor cells in 70% of biopsies, with significant differences between the subtypes (HR+/HER2-: 84%; TNBC: 62%, HER2+: 51%; p<0.001). In the complete cohort, 8% of patients with invasive tumor cells in intermediate biopsies achieved a pCR after completion of treatment (pCR rate in patients with residual tumor: TNBC: 19%, HR+/HER2: 3%; HER2+: 11%). If no residual cancer was present, pCR rate was 50% in the complete cohort (TNBC: 48%, HR+/HER2-: 27%; HER2+: 66%). An increase in TILs from baseline biopsy to intermediate biopsy was associated with a higher probability of pCR in the overall study cohort (p=0.001). A similar or increased Ki-67 was associated with a low probability of pCR in the overall study cohort (p=0.004) and with a shorter disease-free survival in patients with TNBC (p=0.04).

Conclusions

Intermediate biopsies can identify patients that are unlikely to achieve a pCR after therapy. After further validation, this may be useful for adaptation of treatment. For translational biomarker research, intermediate biopsies are useful tool to study mechanisms of therapy resistance and biomarker discovery. Additional studies will be needed to demonstrate if standardized sampling procedures can further improve response prediction through intermediate biopsies.

Legal entity responsible for the study

German Breast Group.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

M. Untch: Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Amgen GmbH; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: BMS; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Celgene GmbH; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Daiichi Sankyo; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Eisai; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Lilly Deutschland; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Lilly Int.; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: MSD Merck; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Myriad Genetics; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Pfizer GmbH; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Roche Pharma AG; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Sanofi Aventis Deutschland GmbH; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Pierre Fabre; Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Clovis Oncology; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Seatlle Genetics; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Seagen; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: GSK; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Gilead. T. Karn: Other, Personal, Other, Patent pending: EP18209672. M. van Mackelenbergh: Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: Amgen; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: Novartis; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: Pierre Fabre; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: Lilly; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: Genomic Health; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: Molecular Health; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: Gilead; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: Seagen; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: GSK. J. Huober: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: Gilead; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: Seagen; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, personal fees: Lilly; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Travel, personal fees: Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel, personal fees, Other: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel, personal fees, Other: Daiichi; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: Roche; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: MSD; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: AbbVie; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: Eisai; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant: Hexal; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Travel, Other: BMS. W.D. Schmitt: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: GlaxoSmithKline; Financial Interests, Personal, Funding: Myriad Genetics. F. Marmé: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Roche/Genentech; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Tesaro; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Amgen; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: PharmaMar; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Genomic Health; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: CureVac; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: EISAI; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Persona Fees: BMS; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Clovis Oncology; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: GSK; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: MSD; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Seagen; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Myriad Genetics; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Pierre Fabre; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Personal Fees: Gilead/Immunomedics; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Persona fees: Janssen-Cilag. E. Stickeler: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: Roche; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: Gilead; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: MSD; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: Lilly; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: Seagen; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, personal fees: PharmaMar. H. Tesch: Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Consulting fees, honoraria for lectures, presentations: Novartis; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Consulting fees, honoraria for lectures, presentations: Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Consulting fees, honoraria for lectures, presentations: GSK; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Consulting fees, honoraria for lectures, presentations: Seagen; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Consulting fees, honoraria for lectures, presentations: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Consulting fees, honoraria for lectures, presentations: Lilly; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Consulting fees, honoraria for lectures, presentations: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Consulting fees, honoraria for lectures, presentations: Daiichi; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Consulting fees, honoraria for lectures, presentations: Exact Science. P.A. Fasching: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: Novartis; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Institutional Funding: BioNTech; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker, Research Grant: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: Daiichi Sankyo; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: Eisai; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: Merck Sharp & Dohme; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Institutional Funding: Cepheid; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: Lilly; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board: Pierre Fabre; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: Seagen; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: Roche; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board: Hexal; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board: Agendia; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board: Sanofi Aventis; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: Gilead. A. Schneeweiss: Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Research Grant, Travel expenses, Honoraria: BMS; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Research Grant, Expert testimony, Travel expenses, Honoraria: Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Research Grant: AbbVie; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Research Grant: Molecular Partner; Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony, Expert testimony, Honoraria: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria, Travel expenses: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: MSD; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: Tesaro; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: Lilly; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: Seagen; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: Gilead. V. Müller: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, speaker and consultancy honoraria: Amgen; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, speaker honoraria: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, speaker and consultancy honoraria: Daiichi Sankyo; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, speaker and consultancy honoraria: Eisai; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, speaker honoraria: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, speaker and consultancy honoraria: MSD; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Invited Speaker, speaker and consultancy honoraria, Institutional research support: Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Invited Speaker, speaker and consultancy honoraria, Institutional research support: Roche; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, speaker honoraria: Teva; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Invited Speaker, speaker honoraria, Institutional research support: Seagen; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, speaker and consultancy honoraria: GSK; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, speaker and consultancy honoraria: Gilead; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, consultancy honoraria: Genomic Health; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, consultancy honoraria: Hexal; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, consultancy honoraria: Pierre Fabre; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, consultancy honoraria: ClinSol; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, consultancy honoraria: Lilly; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Institutional research support: Genentech. S. Loibl: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Other: AbbVie; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board, Other: Amgen; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Other: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board, Other: Bayer; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Boards, Other: BMS; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Other: Celgene; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Medical Writing, Other: Daiichi Sankyo; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board, Other: Eirgenix; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board, Other: GSK; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Medical Writing, Other: Immunomedics/Gilead; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Boards, Other: Lilly; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board, Other: Merck; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Medical Writing, Other: Novartis; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Medical Writing, Other: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board & Lecture, Other: Pierre Fabre; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board & Lecture, Other: prIME/Medscape; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board, Medical Writing, Other: Puma; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Lecture, Other: Samsung; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board, Medical Writing, Other: Seagen; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Boards & Lectures, Medical Writing, Other: Roche; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Pending, Immunsignature in TNBC: EP14153692.0; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Pending, Signature for CDK 4/6 Inhibitor: EP21152186.9; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Issued, Predicting response to an Anti-HER2 containing therapy: EP15702464.7; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Pending, GeparNuevo: EP19808852.8; Other, Institutional, Royalties, Patent Issued, Royalties, VM Scope GmbH: Digital Ki67 Evaluator. C. Denkert: Financial Interests, Personal, Ownership Interest, Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Sividon Diagnostics; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role: MSD Oncology; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role: Daiichi Sankyo; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role: Molecular Health; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role: Merck; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role, Research Funding: Roche; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role: Lilly; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Research Funding: Myriad Genetics; Other, Personal, Royalties, Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: VMScope digital pathology software; Other, Personal, Royalties, Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: WO2015114146A1; Other, Personal, Royalties, Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: WO2010076322A1; Other, Personal, Royalties, Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: WO2020109570A1. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background

SASCIA (NCT04595565) is an ongoing phase III study randomising patients (pts) with HER2- BC and residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) or hormone receptor (HR)+ with a CPS+EG score ≥3 or 2 and ypN+ after NACT to SG or treatment of physicianś choice (TPC, capecitabine, platinum, observation). We present the results of the pre-planned SIA.

Methods

The analysis was performed after the first 50 randomized pts had completed 4 therapy cycles. Pts were included if they received ≥2 cycles, were observed ≥6 wks or discontinued earlier. Objectives were to assess adverse events (AEs) grade (G) 1-4, G3-4 and compliance (dose reductions, delays, discontinuation) between arms.

Results

At the time of the analysis, 142 pts were randomized, 88 were included in the SIA. 45 pts received SG, 32 capecitabine, 11 were observed. Median age was 46 (24-71) in SG vs 51 (32-74) yrs in TPC arm, median BMI (25.8 (20.0-42.6) vs 23.8 (18.2-35.4) kg/m²), more pts in SG arm had a Ki67>20% (N=29, 64.4% vs N=21, 48.8%); 30 (66.7%) vs 29 (67.4%) were HR-, 15 (33.3%) vs 14 (32.6%) HR+. All pts had AEs G1-4 in SG arm vs 37 (86.0%) in TPC arm, and 30 (66.7%) vs 9 (20.9%) G3-4 (Table), no death occurred. 6 (13.6%) pts under SG vs 3 (9.4%) under capecitabine discontinued therapy prematurely; 30 (66.7%) vs 13 (43.2%) had ≥1 dose delay, due to hematological (N=21, 46.7% vs N=3, 10.0%) and non-hematological AEs (N=3, 6.7% vs N=7, 23.3%); 12 (26.7%) vs 9 (28.1%) had ≥1 dose reduction (hematological N=6, 13.3% vs N=1, 3.1%; non-hematological N=5, 11.1% vs N=6, 18.8%). Table: 58O

Statistically significant different AEs between arms

Conclusions

SG showed a higher rate of AEs compared to TPC, which includes observation only. AEs, especially G3-4 AEs rate were in line with the known safety profile of SG and led to more dose delays. AEs due to SG therapy was well manageable using the recommended supportive measures. The study continues as planned.

Clinical trial identification

NCT04595565.

Legal entity responsible for the study

German Breast Group.

Funding

The trial is financially supported by Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Disclosure

F. Marmé: Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Personal fees: Gilead/Immunomedics; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal fees: Roche, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Tesaro, Novartis, Amgen, PharmaMar, Genomic Health, CureVac, Eisai, BMS, Clovis, Janssen-Cilag, GSK, MSD, Seagen, Myriad, Pierre Fabre. C. Hanusch: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Roche, Novartis, Lilly, AstraZeneca. T. Link: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: Pfizer, Roche, Tesaro, Amgen, Novartis, Lilly, Myriad, Eisai, Gilead; Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Other: MSD, Clovis, GSK; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Other: BMS, Daiichi Sankyo. C. Denkert: Financial Interests, Personal, Ownership Interest, Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Sividon Diagnostics; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role: MSD Oncology, Daiichi Sankyo, Molecular Health, AstraZeneca Merck, Lilly; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role, Research Funding: Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Research Funding: Myriad Genetics; Other, Personal, Royalties, Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: VMScope Digital Pathology Software, WO2015114146A1, WO2010076322A1, WO2020109570A1. P.A. Fasching: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: Novartis, Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca, Eisai, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Lilly, Seagen, Roche, Gilead; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant: BioNTech, Cepheid; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker, Research Grant: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board: Pierre Fabre, Hexal, Agendia, Sanofi Aventis. C. Jackisch: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: Roche, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Lilly, Novartis, Exact Sciences; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other: Seagen. P. Aftimos: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: Boehringer Ingelheim, Macrogenics, Amcure, Synthon, Servier, G1 Therapeutics, Novartis, Radius, Deloitte, Menarini, Gilead; Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel Grant: Roche; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Travel Grant: Amgen, MSD, Pfizer. J. Huober: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: Gilead, Seagen, Roche, MSD, AbbVie, Eisai; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Grant: Lilly; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Travel, Other: Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel, Other: Pfizer, Daiichi; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant: Hexal; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Travel: BMS. M. Untch: Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Amgen GmbH, AstraZeneca, Celgene GmbH, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, Lilly Int., MSD Merck, Myriad Genetics, Pfizer GmbH, Roche Pharma AG, Sanofi Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Novartis, Clovis Oncology; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: BMS, Lilly Deutschland, Pierre Fabre, Seattle Genetics, Seagen, GSK, Gilead. M. Balic: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grants: ABCSG; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Consulting fees, Payment or honoraria for lectures, Support for attending meetings, travel, Data safety board or advisory board: AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Consulting fees, Payment or honoraria for lectures, Data safety board or advisory board: Daiichi Sankyo, Seagen; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Consulting fees, Payment or honoraria for lectures: Samsung. M. Reinisch: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: AstraZeneca, Novartis, Roche, Pfizer, Somatex, Daiichi Sankyo, Lilly MSD. J. Blohmer: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role, Honoraria: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role, Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Honoraria: Pfizer, Roche; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: MSD Oncology, Lilly, Gilead Sciences, Eisai Germany, Seattle Genetics, Daiichi Sankyo/AstraZeneca, Exact Sciences, Molecular Health. S. Loibl: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Other: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Celgene; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board, Other: Amgen, Bayer, BMS; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, Honorarium for Ad Board & Lecture, Medical Writing: Daiichi Sankyo; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board, Other: Eirgenix, GSK, Lilly, Merck; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Medical Writing, Other: Immunomedics/Gilead; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board & Lectures, Medical Writing, Grant, Other: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, Honorarium for Ad Board & Lecture, Other: Pierre Fabre, prIME/Medscape; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, Honorarium for Ad Board, Medical Writing, Other: Puma, Seagen; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Lecture, Other: Samsung; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Pending: EP14153692.0, EP21152186.9; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Issued: EP15702464.7; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Pending, GeparNuevo: EP19808852.8; Other, Institutional, Royalties, Patent Issued, Royalties: Digital Ki67 Evaluator. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background

PENELOPE-B is a phase III study investigating the role of PAL + ET vs placebo + ET in HR+, HER2- early BC pts with high risk of relapse after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Invasive disease-free survival was not improved with PAL + ET (Loibl JCO 2021). Estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) values might be influenced by post-NACT PAL. Changes in hormones for pts treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors + ET are not well explored.

Methods

616 pts were premenopausal at baseline (BL, investigator-defined). Pts with serum samples at BL and at least before cycle (C) 7 or at end of treatment (EOT) were considered (N=576). 576 pts provided blood samples at BL, 526 before C7, 541 at EOT. Centrally assessed FSH>12.4 IU/l and E2<52.2 ng/L were defined as postmenopausal; fertile level of AMH as ≥0.22 ng/mL (central lab cut-offs). Analysed subgroups were pre- vs postmenopausal FSH/E2 at BL, age ≤40 vs >40 yrs, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) use vs no.

Results

Median age was 43 (19-56) yrs; 46.8% pts had BMI <25, 53.2% ≥25. Hormone values are shown below. At BL, 41.6% of pts in the placebo vs 41.3% in the PAL arm had premenopausal hormone levels. Of these, 9.1 vs 13.5% (p=0.387) had postmenopausal hormone levels at C7. In pts ≤40 yrs 29.2 vs 29.5% at BL (p=1.000), 18.1 vs 23.4% at C7 (p=0.472) had postmenopausal values. More pts >40 yrs (BL 75.3%, C7 69.8%) vs ≤40 yrs (29.4, 20.7%) and without GnRHa (80.3, 72.2%) vs with (15.9, 12.1%) had postmenopausal hormone levels. Median AMH was under the detection limit at all time points. At BL 91.8 vs 93.6% had non-fertile levels of AMH (p=0.426), 94.4 vs 96.5% at C7 (p=0.298), without difference in subgroups. EOT analysis will be presented at the meeting. Table: 60MO

Conclusions

PAL does not influence FSH, E2 and the ovarian reserve significantly when added to ET after NACT.

Clinical trial identification

NCT01864746.

Legal entity responsible for the study

German Breast Group.

Funding

Funding and drug were provided by Pfizer.

Disclosure

F. Marmé: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Roche, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Tesaro, Novartis, Amgen, PharmaMar, Genomic Health, CureVac, Eisai, BMS, Clovis, Janssen-Cilag, GSK, MSD, Seagen, Myriad, Pierre Fabre; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Grant: Gilead/immunomedics. Y. Liu: Financial Interests, Institutional, Stocks/Shares: Pfizer. M. Martin Jimenez: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant: Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Consulting/Advisory Fees: Puma; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Consulting/Advisory Fees, Speakers’ Honoraria: Novartis; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Role, consulting/advisory fees, speakers’ honoraria: AstraZeneca, Amgen, Roche, Genentech, Eli Lilly, Pfizer; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Role, consulting/advisory fees: Taiho Oncology, PharmaMar, Daiichi Sankyo. C. Denkert: Financial Interests, Personal, Ownership Interest, Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Sividon Diagnostics; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role: MSD Oncology, Daiichi Sankyo, Molecular Health, AstraZeneca, Merck, Lilly; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role, Research Funding: Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Role, Research Funding: Myriad Genetics; Other, Personal, Royalties, Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: VMScope Digital Pathology Software, WO2015114146A1, WO2010076322A1, WO2020109570A1. T. Karn: Other, Personal, Other, Patent pending: EP18209672. M. van Mackelenbergh: Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Honoraria: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, Lilly, Pierre Fabre, Genomic Health, Molecular Health, Gilead, Seagen, GSK. P.A. Fasching: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: Novartis, Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca, Eisai, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Lilly, Seagen, Roche, Gilead; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant: BioNTech, Cepheid; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker, Research Grant: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board: Pierre Fabre, Hexal, Agendia, Sanofi Aventis. V. Müller: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Speaker and Consultancy Honoraria: Amgen, Daiichi Sankyo, MSD, GSK, Gilead; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Speaker Honoraria: AstraZeneca, Eisai, Pfizer, Teva; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Invited Speaker, Speaker and Consultancy Honoraria: Novartis, Roche; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Invited Speaker, Speaker Honoraria: Seagen; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consultancy Honoraria: Genomic Health, Hexal, Pierre Fabre, ClinSol, Lilly; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Other: Genentech. E. Stickeler: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Roche, Gilead, MSD, Lilly, Pfizer, Seagen, PharmaMar. S. Loibl: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, honorarium for Ad Boards: AbbVie, Celgene; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board: Amgen, Bayer, BMS, Eirgenix, GSK, Lilly, Merck; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, honorarium for Ad Boards & Lectures, Grant, Other: AstraZeneca; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, honorarium for Ad Board & Lecture, Medical Writing: Daiichi Sankyo, Roche; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, honorarium for Ad Board, Medical Writing: Immunomedics/Gilead; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, honorarium for Ad Board, Medical Writing: Novartis, Pfizer; Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, honorarium for Ad Board & Lecture: Pierre Fabre, prIME/Medscape; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, honorarium for Ad Board, Medical Writing: Puma; Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, honorarium for Lecture: Samsung; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker, honorarium for Ad Boards, Medical Writing: Seagen; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Pending: EP14153692.0, EP21152186.9; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Issued: EP15702464.7; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Pending, GeparNuevo: EP19808852.8; Other, Institutional, Royalties, Patent Issued, Royalties: Digital Ki67 Evaluator. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background

Eftilagimod alpha (EF) is a soluble LAG-3 protein (LAG-3Ig) that binds to a subset of MHC class II molecules and mediates activation of antigen-presenting cells followed by T-cells. AIPAC investigated EF + paclitaxel (PA). We hereby report exploratory biomarker and multivariate analyses.

Methods

This double-blinded, 1:1 randomized phase IIb trial enrolled pts with HR⁺ HER2^- MBC. Pts received PA (80 mg/m² IV on D1, D8, D15) + EF (30 mg) or placebo (PL) on D2, D16 per cycle (28 days) for 24 wks + EF/PL for 52 wks. Exploratory EPs were potential biomarkers and their correlation to efficacy. Multivariate analysis used backward selection p>0.15 (univariate cox model). Blood cell subsets (CD4; CD8, PBMCs, monocytes) & Th1 biomarker CXCL-10 were measured centrally. Comparison was done using 2-sided Wilcoxon test.

Results

226 pts [efti n=114; placebo n=112] were included. Pts were endocrine resistant (84%), pre-treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors (44.2%). Post-study treatment was similar. Safety/efficacy were reported at SABCS 2020 #132; SITC 2021 #948 In the multivariate predictive model 4 groups (high Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio [NLR]; no prior taxanes; low monocytes and <5 yrs since diagnosis) were significant for OS (Table) On treatment mean fold-changes of monocytes (5.81 vs. 2.29; p=0.025), PBMCs (2.00 vs. 1.41; p=0.041), T cells (2.28 vs. 1.48; p=0.086), & CXCL10 (2.78 vs. 1.56; p=0.06) were significantly higher (EF vs PL) and linked to higher OS. Post baseline CD4 (median 896/μl vs. 736 μl; p=0.038) & CD8 (median 377/μl vs. 223 μl; p=0.005) T cell count increased significantly in pts with higher OS EF vs. PL. Table: 171P

OS for subgroups significant p<0.15 in the multivariate model

Conclusions

EF + PA elicits significant effects on different immune cells which is significantly associated with higher OS. Multivariate analysis identified potential target populations for phase III.

Clinical trial identification

The AIPAC trial protocol has been published, please see Dirix, L. & Triebel, F. Future Oncol. 2019 Jun;15(17):1963-1973. The trial identifiers are IMP321-P011 (code for sponsor), 2015-002541-63 (EudraCT) and NCT02614833.321-P011 (code for sponsor), 2015-002541-63 (EudraCT) and NCT02614833.

Legal entity responsible for the study

Immutep S.A.

Funding

Immutep S.A.

Disclosure

F. Marmé: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: Roche,AstraZeneca,Pfizer, Tesaro, Novartis, Amgen, PharmaMar, GenomicHealth, CureVac, Eisai, Celegene, Clovis, Janssen-Cilag, Gilead/Immunomedics, GSK, MSD, Seagen, Myriad, Pierre Fabre. H. Wildiers: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Roche & Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel, Accomodations, Expenses: Roche, Pfizer; Other, Personal, Other, Consulting or Advisory Role: Roche, Lilly, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, AbbVie, Daiichi Sankyo, KCE, PSI Cro AG, MSD, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Ireland & Immutep Pty; Other, Personal, Speaker’s Bureau: EISAI, MSD & AstraZeneca. A. Armstrong: Other, Personal, Other, Stock Or Otherownership: spousal shares in AstraZeneca; Other, Institutional, Research Grant: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Conference fees: MSD, Gilead; Other, Institutional, Other, Ad Board Partication: MSD, Gilead. E. De Cuypere: Other, Personal, Other, Travel, Accomodations, Expenses: PharmaMar, MSD. F. Dalenc: Other, Personal, Other, Travel, Accomodations, Expenses: Pfizer, Roche. P. Vuylsteke: Other, Personal, Other, Consulting or Advisory role: Roche, MSD, BMS, Lily, Novartis; Other, Personal, Invited Speaker, Travel,Accomodations, expenses: Roche, Pfizer, Lily, BMS; Other, Personal, Invited Speaker, Speakers Bureau: Roche, Novartis. E. Brain: Other, Personal, Other, Honoraria: Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Seagen; Other, Personal, Other, Consulting or Advisory Role: Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, G1 Therapeutics, Sandoz; Other, Personal, Other, Travel, Accomodations, Expenses: Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Roche, Sandoz. S. Kuemmel: Other, Personal, Other, Consulting Fees: Roche, Genomic Health, Novartis, Amgen, Celgene, Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca, Somatex, MSD, Pfizer, PFM Medical, Lilly, Sonoscape, Seagen, Gilead; Other, Personal and Institutional, Other, Contracted Research: Somatex – Research Grant /Funding Institution; Other, Personal, Other, Ownership Interest (stock, stock options, or other ownership interest excluding diversified mutual funds): WSG – Westdeutsche Studiengruppe- Co-Director; Other, Personal, Other, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Roche/ Daiichi Sankyo/Sonoscape. C. Mueller: Other, Personal, Other, Employment: Immutep; Financial Interests, Personal, Financial Interests, Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Immutep. C. Brignone: Other, Personal, Other: Immutep SAS; Other, Personal, Other, Stock and Other ownership: Immutep Ltd.; Other, Personal, Other, Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Immutep. F. Triebel: Other, Personal, Other, Employment: Immutep SAS; Other, Personal, Other, Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Immutep Ltd.; Other, Personal, Other, Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Being an inventor on patents on LAG-3 owned by Immutep SAS. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background

The IMpassion130 and KEYNOTE-355 trials have established a substantial benefit from adding an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) to 1L chemotherapy (CT) for mTNBC with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)–positive tumors. However, many patients (pts) still have a poor outcome with a high unmet medical need. Preclinical and small ongoing clinical studies in TNBC provided encouraging results on the synergism between ICIs, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted agents, and standard CT without adding significant toxicity. ATRACTIB is evaluating the safety and efficacy of A (anti-PD-L1 antibody) combined with P and B (a VEGF-targeted drug) as 1L regimen for mTNBC pts irrespective of PD-L1 status.

Trial design

ATRACTIB is an international, investigator-initiated, open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial (NCT04408118). Pts aged ≥18 years, with unresectable locally advanced or mTNBC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–1, who had received no prior systemic therapy or ≥12 months since (neo)adjuvant taxane-based CT are eligible. Pts receive A (840 mg IV, days 1, 15) with P (90 mg/m² IV, days 1, 8, 15), and B (10 mg/kg IV, days 1, 15) on each 28-day cycle until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient withdrawal. The primary endpoint is investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) as per RECIST v.1.1. Secondary efficacy endpoints include objective response rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate, time until response, response duration, overall survival, and best percentage change in the sum of the diameters of measurable tumors; safety and tolerability as per NCI-CTCAE v.5.0. Exploratory endpoints are PFS and ORR as per immune-related RECIST, and analysis of predictive biomarkers. The primary analysis consists of median PFS estimation (H₀: ≤7 months; H₁: ≥9.5 months) based on the exponential maximum likelihood estimation test. A sample size of 100 pts is needed to attain 80% power at a nominal one-sided α level of 5%. An interim analysis is planned for assessing the safety and feasibility in the first 20 pts who have completed a 3-month follow-up or reached the end of study. This trial was opened to accrual in October 2020.

Clinical trial identification

NCT04408118.

Legal entity responsible for the study

MEDSIR S.L.

Funding

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Disclosure

A. Cortés Salgado: Financial Interests, Personal, Research Grant: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Clovis, Pfizer, GSK, Roche; Financial Interests, Personal, Speaker’s Bureau: GSK, AstraZeneca, MSD; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel: Daiichi; Financial Interests, Personal, Ownership Interest: Co-Founder: ONCARE. J.M. Perez Garcia: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Lilly, Roche, Eisai, Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca, Seattle Genetics; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel: Roche. I. Blancas López-Barajas: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: AstraZeneca, Roche, Lilly; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: AstraZeneca, Roche, Novartis, Eisai, Celgene, Pfizer, Lilly, Pierre, Fabre, Bristol Myers Squibb, Kiowa-kirin, Veracyte. P. Schmid: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Puma, Roche, Eisai, Celgene; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Astellas AstraZeneca, Genentech, Novartis, Oncogenex, Roche, Medivation; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Employee/ Spouse: Roche. V. Guarneri: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Eli Lilly, Novartis, Roche, MSD, Gilead; Financial Interests, Personal, Speaker’s Bureau: Eli Lilly, Novartis, GSK; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: BMS, AstraZeneca, Roche, Nerviano, Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal, Royalties: Pending (HER2 DX), Reveal Genomics. J. Gligorov: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: AstraZeneca, Daiichi, Eisai, Genomic Health, Immunomedics, Ipsen, Macrogenics, MSD, Novartis, Onxeo, Pfizer, Roche Genentech, Seagen; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: AstraZeneca, Daiichi, Eisai, Genomic Health, Immunomedics, Ipsen, Macrogenics, MSD, Novartis, Onxeo, Pfizer, Roche Genentech, Seagen; Financial Interests, Personal, Speaker’s Bureau: AstraZeneca, Daiichi, Eisai, Genomic Health, Immunomedics, Ipsen, Macrogenics, MSD, Novartis, Onxeo, Pfizer, Roche Genentech, Seagen; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: AstraZeneca, Daiichi, Eisai, Genomic Health, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche Genentech; Financial Interests, Personal, Expert Testimony: AstraZeneca, Daiichi, Eisai, Genomic Health, Immunomedics, Ipsen, Macrogenics, MSD, Novartis, Onxeo, Pfizer, Roche Genentech, Seagen; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel: AstraZeneca, Daiichi, Eisai, Genomic Health, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche Genentech, Seagen. M. Sampayo-Cordero: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: MEDSIR, Syntax for Science, Optimapharm, Ability Pharma; Financial Interests, Personal, Research Grant: MEDSIR; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel: MEDSIR, Syntax for Science, Optimapharm, and Roche; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Consultant: MEDSIR, Syntax for Science, and Optimapharm; Financial Interests, Personal, Speaker’s Bureau: MEDSIR; Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: MEDSIR. A. Llombart Cussac: Financial Interests, Personal, Project Lead: Eisai, Celgene, Lilly, Pfizer, Roche, Novartis, MSD; Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: MedSIR, Initia-Research; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Lilly, Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, GenomicHealth, GSK; Financial Interests, Personal, Speaker’s Bureau: Lilly, AstraZeneca, MSD; Financial Interests, Personal, Research Grant: Roche, Foundation Medicine, Pierre Fabre, Agendia; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel: Roche, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, AstraZeneca. J. Cortés: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role: Roche, Celgene, Cellestia, AstraZeneca, Seattle Genetics, Daiichi Sankyo, Erytech, Athenex, Polyphor, Lilly, Merck Sharp&Dohme, GSK, Leuko, Bioasis, Clovis Oncology, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ellipses, Hibercell, BioInvent, Gemoab, Gilead, Menarini, Zymeworks; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, honoraria: Roche, Novartis, Celgene, Eisai, Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis, Lilly, Merck Sharp&Dohme, Daiichi Sankyo; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Roche, Ariad pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Baxalta GMBH/Servier Affaires, Bayer healthcare, Eisai, F.Hoffman-La Roche, Guardanth health, Merck Sharp&Dohme, Pfizer, Piqur Therapeutics, Puma C, Queen Mary University of London; Financial Interests, Personal, Stocks/Shares: MedSIR, Nektar Pharmaceuticals, Leuko (relative); Financial Interests, Personal, Other, travel: Roche, Novartis, Eisai, pfizer, Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background

SASCIA (NCT04595565) is an ongoing phase III study randomising patients (pts) with HER2- BC and residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) or hormone receptor (HR)+ with a CPS+EG score ≥3 or 2 and ypN+ after NACT to SG or treatment of physicianś choice (TPC, capecitabine, platinum, observation). We present the results of the pre-planned SIA.

Methods

The analysis was performed after the first 50 randomized pts had completed 4 therapy cycles. Pts were included if they received ≥2 cycles, were observed ≥6 wks or discontinued earlier. Objectives were to assess adverse events (AEs) grade (G) 1-4, G3-4 and compliance (dose reductions, delays, discontinuation) between arms.

Results

At the time of the analysis, 142 pts were randomized, 88 were included in the SIA. 45 pts received SG, 32 capecitabine, 11 were observed. Median age was 46 (24-71) in SG vs 51 (32-74) yrs in TPC arm, median BMI (25.8 (20.0-42.6) vs 23.8 (18.2-35.4) kg/m²), more pts in SG arm had a Ki67>20% (N=29, 64.4% vs N=21, 48.8%); 30 (66.7%) vs 29 (67.4%) were HR-, 15 (33.3%) vs 14 (32.6%) HR+. All pts had AEs G1-4 in SG arm vs 37 (86.0%) in TPC arm, and 30 (66.7%) vs 9 (20.9%) G3-4 (Table), no death occurred. 6 (13.6%) pts under SG vs 3 (9.4%) under capecitabine discontinued therapy prematurely; 30 (66.7%) vs 13 (43.2%) had ≥1 dose delay, due to hematological (N=21, 46.7% vs N=3, 10.0%) and non-hematological AEs (N=3, 6.7% vs N=7, 23.3%); 12 (26.7%) vs 9 (28.1%) had ≥1 dose reduction (hematological N=6, 13.3% vs N=1, 3.1%; non-hematological N=5, 11.1% vs N=6, 18.8%). Table: 58O

Statistically significant different AEs between arms

Conclusions

SG showed a higher rate of AEs compared to TPC, which includes observation only. AEs, especially G3-4 AEs rate were in line with the known safety profile of SG and led to more dose delays. AEs due to SG therapy was well manageable using the recommended supportive measures. The study continues as planned.

Clinical trial identification

NCT04595565.

Legal entity responsible for the study

German Breast Group.

Funding

The trial is financially supported by Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Disclosure

F. Marmé: Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Personal fees: Gilead/Immunomedics; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal fees: Roche, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Tesaro, Novartis, Amgen, PharmaMar, Genomic Health, CureVac, Eisai, BMS, Clovis, Janssen-Cilag, GSK, MSD, Seagen, Myriad, Pierre Fabre. C. Hanusch: Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Personal Fees: Roche, Novartis, Lilly, AstraZeneca. T. Link: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: Pfizer, Roche, Tesaro, Amgen, Novartis, Lilly, Myriad, Eisai, Gilead; Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Other: MSD, Clovis, GSK; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Other: BMS, Daiichi Sankyo. C. Denkert: Financial Interests, Personal, Ownership Interest, Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Sividon Diagnostics; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role: MSD Oncology, Daiichi Sankyo, Molecular Health, AstraZeneca Merck, Lilly; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role, Research Funding: Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Research Funding: Myriad Genetics; Other, Personal, Royalties, Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: VMScope Digital Pathology Software, WO2015114146A1, WO2010076322A1, WO2020109570A1. P.A. Fasching: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker: Novartis, Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca, Eisai, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Lilly, Seagen, Roche, Gilead; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant: BioNTech, Cepheid; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Advisory Board, Advisory Board, Invited Speaker, Research Grant: Pfizer; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board, Advisory Board: Pierre Fabre, Hexal, Agendia, Sanofi Aventis. C. Jackisch: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: Roche, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Lilly, Novartis, Exact Sciences; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other: Seagen. P. Aftimos: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: Boehringer Ingelheim, Macrogenics, Amcure, Synthon, Servier, G1 Therapeutics, Novartis, Radius, Deloitte, Menarini, Gilead; Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel Grant: Roche; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Travel Grant: Amgen, MSD, Pfizer. J. Huober: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: Gilead, Seagen, Roche, MSD, AbbVie, Eisai; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Grant: Lilly; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Travel, Other: Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel, Other: Pfizer, Daiichi; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant: Hexal; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Travel: BMS. M. Untch: Non-Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: Amgen GmbH, AstraZeneca, Celgene GmbH, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, Lilly Int., MSD Merck, Myriad Genetics, Pfizer GmbH, Roche Pharma AG, Sanofi Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Novartis, Clovis Oncology; Financial Interests, Personal and Institutional, Other, All fees to the institution/employer: BMS, Lilly Deutschland, Pierre Fabre, Seattle Genetics, Seagen, GSK, Gilead. M. Balic: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grants: ABCSG; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Consulting fees, Payment or honoraria for lectures, Support for attending meetings, travel, Data safety board or advisory board: AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Consulting fees, Payment or honoraria for lectures, Data safety board or advisory board: Daiichi Sankyo, Seagen; Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Consulting fees, Payment or honoraria for lectures: Samsung. M. Reinisch: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: AstraZeneca, Novartis, Roche, Pfizer, Somatex, Daiichi Sankyo, Lilly MSD. J. Blohmer: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role, Honoraria: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Role, Consulting or Advisory Role, Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Honoraria: Pfizer, Roche; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria: MSD Oncology, Lilly, Gilead Sciences, Eisai Germany, Seattle Genetics, Daiichi Sankyo/AstraZeneca, Exact Sciences, Molecular Health. S. Loibl: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Other: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Celgene; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board, Other: Amgen, Bayer, BMS; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, Honorarium for Ad Board & Lecture, Medical Writing: Daiichi Sankyo; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board, Other: Eirgenix, GSK, Lilly, Merck; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant, Grant, Medical Writing, Other: Immunomedics/Gilead; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Ad Board & Lectures, Medical Writing, Grant, Other: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, Honorarium for Ad Board & Lecture, Other: Pierre Fabre, prIME/Medscape; Non-Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, Honorarium for Ad Board, Medical Writing, Other: Puma, Seagen; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, honorarium for Lecture, Other: Samsung; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Pending: EP14153692.0, EP21152186.9; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Issued: EP15702464.7; Other, Institutional, Other, Patent Pending, GeparNuevo: EP19808852.8; Other, Institutional, Royalties, Patent Issued, Royalties: Digital Ki67 Evaluator. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background

Eftilagimod alpha (EF) is a soluble LAG-3 protein (LAG-3Ig) that binds to a subset of MHC class II molecules and mediates activation of antigen-presenting cells followed by T-cells. AIPAC investigated EF + paclitaxel (PA). We hereby report exploratory biomarker and multivariate analyses.

Methods

This double-blinded, 1:1 randomized phase IIb trial enrolled pts with HR⁺ HER2^- MBC. Pts received PA (80 mg/m² IV on D1, D8, D15) + EF (30 mg) or placebo (PL) on D2, D16 per cycle (28 days) for 24 wks + EF/PL for 52 wks. Exploratory EPs were potential biomarkers and their correlation to efficacy. Multivariate analysis used backward selection p>0.15 (univariate cox model). Blood cell subsets (CD4; CD8, PBMCs, monocytes) & Th1 biomarker CXCL-10 were measured centrally. Comparison was done using 2-sided Wilcoxon test.

Results

226 pts [efti n=114; placebo n=112] were included. Pts were endocrine resistant (84%), pre-treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors (44.2%). Post-study treatment was similar. Safety/efficacy were reported at SABCS 2020 #132; SITC 2021 #948 In the multivariate predictive model 4 groups (high Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio [NLR]; no prior taxanes; low monocytes and <5 yrs since diagnosis) were significant for OS (Table) On treatment mean fold-changes of monocytes (5.81 vs. 2.29; p=0.025), PBMCs (2.00 vs. 1.41; p=0.041), T cells (2.28 vs. 1.48; p=0.086), & CXCL10 (2.78 vs. 1.56; p=0.06) were significantly higher (EF vs PL) and linked to higher OS. Post baseline CD4 (median 896/μl vs. 736 μl; p=0.038) & CD8 (median 377/μl vs. 223 μl; p=0.005) T cell count increased significantly in pts with higher OS EF vs. PL. Table: 171P

OS for subgroups significant p<0.15 in the multivariate model

Conclusions

EF + PA elicits significant effects on different immune cells which is significantly associated with higher OS. Multivariate analysis identified potential target populations for phase III.

Clinical trial identification

The AIPAC trial protocol has been published, please see Dirix, L. & Triebel, F. Future Oncol. 2019 Jun;15(17):1963-1973. The trial identifiers are IMP321-P011 (code for sponsor), 2015-002541-63 (EudraCT) and NCT02614833.321-P011 (code for sponsor), 2015-002541-63 (EudraCT) and NCT02614833.

Legal entity responsible for the study

Immutep S.A.

Funding

Immutep S.A.

Disclosure

F. Marmé: Financial Interests, Personal, Other: Roche,AstraZeneca,Pfizer, Tesaro, Novartis, Amgen, PharmaMar, GenomicHealth, CureVac, Eisai, Celegene, Clovis, Janssen-Cilag, Gilead/Immunomedics, GSK, MSD, Seagen, Myriad, Pierre Fabre. H. Wildiers: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Roche & Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel, Accomodations, Expenses: Roche, Pfizer; Other, Personal, Other, Consulting or Advisory Role: Roche, Lilly, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, AbbVie, Daiichi Sankyo, KCE, PSI Cro AG, MSD, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Ireland & Immutep Pty; Other, Personal, Speaker’s Bureau: EISAI, MSD & AstraZeneca. A. Armstrong: Other, Personal, Other, Stock Or Otherownership: spousal shares in AstraZeneca; Other, Institutional, Research Grant: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Conference fees: MSD, Gilead; Other, Institutional, Other, Ad Board Partication: MSD, Gilead. E. De Cuypere: Other, Personal, Other, Travel, Accomodations, Expenses: PharmaMar, MSD. F. Dalenc: Other, Personal, Other, Travel, Accomodations, Expenses: Pfizer, Roche. P. Vuylsteke: Other, Personal, Other, Consulting or Advisory role: Roche, MSD, BMS, Lily, Novartis; Other, Personal, Invited Speaker, Travel,Accomodations, expenses: Roche, Pfizer, Lily, BMS; Other, Personal, Invited Speaker, Speakers Bureau: Roche, Novartis. E. Brain: Other, Personal, Other, Honoraria: Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Seagen; Other, Personal, Other, Consulting or Advisory Role: Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, G1 Therapeutics, Sandoz; Other, Personal, Other, Travel, Accomodations, Expenses: Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Roche, Sandoz. S. Kuemmel: Other, Personal, Other, Consulting Fees: Roche, Genomic Health, Novartis, Amgen, Celgene, Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca, Somatex, MSD, Pfizer, PFM Medical, Lilly, Sonoscape, Seagen, Gilead; Other, Personal and Institutional, Other, Contracted Research: Somatex – Research Grant /Funding Institution; Other, Personal, Other, Ownership Interest (stock, stock options, or other ownership interest excluding diversified mutual funds): WSG – Westdeutsche Studiengruppe- Co-Director; Other, Personal, Other, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Roche/ Daiichi Sankyo/Sonoscape. C. Mueller: Other, Personal, Other, Employment: Immutep; Financial Interests, Personal, Financial Interests, Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Immutep. C. Brignone: Other, Personal, Other: Immutep SAS; Other, Personal, Other, Stock and Other ownership: Immutep Ltd.; Other, Personal, Other, Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Immutep. F. Triebel: Other, Personal, Other, Employment: Immutep SAS; Other, Personal, Other, Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Immutep Ltd.; Other, Personal, Other, Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Being an inventor on patents on LAG-3 owned by Immutep SAS. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.