This is a single arm, Phase IIA clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of
atezolizumab in combination with paclitaxel, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab in 50 patients with
locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. Due to
concerns that corticosteroids may have a negative effect on tumor immunity expected with
addition of atezolizumab to the standard of care regimen, patients will receive premedication
with dexamethasone only for weeks 1 and 2 of the weekly paclitaxel, and then corticosteroid
premedication will be discontinued subsequently.
Patients must have pathologically confirmed HER2-overexpressing breast cancer that is locally
recurrent, unresectable, or metastatic, with measurable disease as defined by RECIST v1.1.
Tumor measurements and bone scans will be performed every 9 weeks while patients are on
study.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Women diagnosed with pathologically confirmed HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, that
is locally recurrent, unresectable or metastatic (negative or positive for ER/PR, and
positive for HER2).
- HER2 status confirmed positive by means of immunohistochemistry (IHC) or in situ
hybridization (ISH) according to ASCO/CAP 2013 guidelines. It is considered positive
if scored as 3+ by an IHC method defined as uniform membrane staining for HER2 in 10%
or more of tumor cells or demonstrate HER2 gene amplification by an ISH method (single
probe, average HER2 copy number ≥ 6.0 signals/cell; dual probe HER2/CEP17 ratio ≥2.0
with an average HER2 copy number ≥4.0 signals/cell; dual probe HER2/chromosome
enumeration probe (CEP)17 ratio ≥2.0 with an average HER2 copy number <4.0
signals/cell; HER2/CEP17 ratio <2.0 with an average HER2 copy number ≥ 6.0
signals/cell).
- Have measurable clinical disease: Measurable disease, defined as at least 1 measurable
lesion on a CT scan as defined by RECIST (version v1.1).
- Age > 18 years.
- ECOG performance status 0,1or 2.
- Adequate organ function (defined by the following parameters): Absolute neutrophil
count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L. Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL.Platelets ≥ 100 x 109/L. Serum
bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper normal limit (UNL), except patients with Gilbert's syndrome.
Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2 x UNL or ≤ 5.0 x UNL in case of liver
metastases. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2 x UNL or ≤ 5.0 x UNL in case of
liver metastases. Serum creatinine < 140 μmol/L (< 1.6 mg/dL) or 1.5x the upper limit
of normal, whichever is less. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤ UNL or ≤ 2.5 x ULN in
case of liver and bone metastases.
- Left ventricular ejection fraction of 50% or more at baseline (by echocardiography or
multiple-gated acquisition scanning).
- Patients may have received one prior hormonal treatment for metastatic disease.
- Patients may have received adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without
trastuzumab and pertuzumab with an interval greater than than 12 months since
completion of adjuvant/neoadjuvant treatment.
- Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent and HIPAA
consent document.
- Female participants of childbearing age must be willing to use contraception methods,
or abstain from sexual activity throughout the course of the study and for 7 months
after the last dose of atezolizumab.
- Have provided tissue from a newly obtained biopsy obtained from a focus of metastatic
disease, and be willing to consider repeat biopsy post-treatment after at least 4
cycles of treatment (an archival tissue sample may be substituted if new biopsy cannot
be obtained and by discretion of Sponsor Investigator).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients participating in another trial of an investigational agent within 4 weeks of
the 1st dose of the study.
- Patients with tumors that cannot be measured or clinically followed.
- Patients who had received therapy for metastatic breast cancer (other than that
described above).
- Patients with active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous
meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided
they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least four weeks
prior to the first dose of trial treatment and any neurologic symptoms have returned
to baseline), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using
steroids for at least 4 weeks prior to trial treatment.
- Patients with any baseline grade 2 neuropathy.
- Patients with known prior hypersensitivity reaction to any of the study drugs.
- Active autoimmune disease that is requiring systemic treatment within the past 3
months or documented history of clinically active autoimmune disease that requires
systemic corticosteroids or immunosuppressive therapy.
- Diagnosis of immunosuppression or receiving steroid therapy or other immunosuppressive
therapy within 4 weeks of the study.
- Have evidence of interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
- Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV1/2). An HIV test must be performed to
confirm status prior to enrollment.
- Patients who are carriers of hepatitis virus B and C. Hepatitis B and C testing must
be performed to confirm status prior to enrollment.
- Prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), anti-programmed cell death
1 ligand (PDL-1), anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137 antibody, or anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte
-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody.
- Pregnant, breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive within the projected time of the
trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit and through 7 months after
the last dose of trial treatment.
- Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
- Active substance abuse or psychiatric disorders.
- The use of a RANKL inhibitor (denosumab) must be discontinued during the study.
Bisphosphonate therapy is permitted.
- The following treatments must be discontinued: Herbal Medications. Immunomodulatory
agents, including but not limited to interferons or IL-2. Immunosuppressive
medications, including but not limited to cyclophosphamide, azathioprine,
methotrexate, and thalidomide. Systemic corticosteroids. Anti-TNF-α agents.
- Any live, attenuated vaccine within 28 days prior to the first day of treatment or
during study treatment, or unwillingness to avoid live, attenuated vaccines within 90
days following the last dose of atezolizumab.
