Background and Rationale of Study:
A. RET and Endocrine Resistance in Breast Cancer RET is an estrogen response gene, and
preclinical studies have demonstrated cross talk between RET and ER. Significant interactions
between RET and ERα pathways have been described, with increased response to estrogen
stimulation observed in the presence of functional RET. RET is associated with resistance to
tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors, and increased RET expression has been demonstrated in
hormone resistant cell lines and primary tumors.Combined anti-estrogen and anti-RET therapy
in luminal breast cancer had a greater effect on cell growth than either therapy alone. The
two classes of drugs have different mechanisms of action; a RET TKI reduced growth through
induction of apoptosis, while anti-ERα reduced cell proliferation, forming the biologic basis
for dual treatment.Dual therapy with tamoxifen and vandetinib, a RET inhibitor, resulted in
greater reduction in tumor growth rate in MCF7 xenografts in mice.RET has been reported to be
over-expressed in up to 75% of ER+ breast cancers (n=20), compared to only 10% of ER-negative
breast cancers (n=10) in a small study. Recently, the investigators tested 94 archival breast
cancer specimens from the National University Hospital, Singapore and found RET
over-expression (2-3+) to be present in 59% of ER negative breast cancers (n=39) and 62% of
ER positive breast cancers (n=55)
There is limited clinical experience in combining RET inhibitors with endocrine therapy in
breast cancer, with only one reported study using vandetanib. In this study, 127
post-menopausal metastatic breast cancer patients with hormone receptor-positive,
bone-predominant disease, were randomized to fulvestrant alone versus fulvestrant combined
with vandetanib. No differences in clinical benefit rate, progression-free survival, or
overall survival, were noted between the two treatment groups. Vandetanib, however, is a less
potent inhibitor of RET than lenvatinib. Lenvatinib has been granted orphan drug designation
for thyroid cancer by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2013, but is not
being actively developed in breast cancer.
The investigators tested 9 ER+ breast cancer cell lines for RET expression using Western
blot, and identified 4 with high expression (BT474, MB361, HCC1419, UACC812), 2 with normal
expression (MCF7, CAMA1), and 3 with low expression (T47D, ZR-75-1, BT483). To evaluate the
effects of combining lenvatinib with endocrine therapy in ER+ breast cancer cell lines with
different RET expression, the investigators performed experiments using 6 cell lines,
including 2 with high RET expression (BT474, MB361), 2 with normal RET expression (MCF7,
CAMA1), and 2 with low RET expression (T47D, ZR-75-1). IC50 to tamoxifen and lenvatinib alone
was established for each cell line, followed by combination therapy at 3 different doses for
each drug. Cell apoptosis and proliferation was measured using caspase 3/7 and MTT assays
respectively. Preliminary experiments showed lenvatinib to have activity in ER positive
breast cancer cell lines, regardless of levels of RET expression. Lenvatinib was at least
additive with tamoxifen in all 6 ER positive breast cancer cell lines tested, with the
combination resulting in ≥50% cell kill compared to single agent tamoxifen in BT474, CAMA1,
and T47D cell lines. These pre-clinical observations suggest the potential role of lenvatinib
in combination with endocrine therapy in the treatment of ER positive breast cancers.
Cells were seeded on 96-well plates and after 24 hours, the cells were treated with tamoxifen
and lenvatinib simultaneously at different doses (tamoxifen at 0, 1, or 5µM, lenvatinib at 0,
5, 10 µM) and incubated for 72 hours. Cell viability was assessed using CCK-8 assay.
B. Preliminary observation of clinical activity of single agent lenvatinib in hormone
receptor positive breast cancer
The investigators previously hypothesized that combining a RET inhibitor such as lenvatinib
with endocrine therapy may potentiate anti-tumor effects in hormone receptor positive breast
cancers. The investigators have recently initiated a study of lenvatinib + letrozole as
neoadjuvant therapy in hormone receptor positive breast cancer patients. Eligible patients
were treated with two weeks of single agent lenvatinib, followed by 12 weeks of lenvatinib +
letrozole. Two patients have been enrolled and the investigators observed tumor reduction of
10-15% on ultrasound after 2 weeks of single agent lenvatinib. To confirm these interesting
observations, the investigators intend to treat a larger cohort of patients with newly
diagnosed early stage breast cancer who are awaiting definitive breast cancer surgery with
approximately 2 weeks of single agent lenvatinib using a window-of-opportunity design, and
evaluate tumor response on ultrasound and histological changes from pre- and post-treatment
tumor biopsies. This design will allow the investigators to expand the target population for
rapid enrollment to achieve a quick signal on biological activity of lenvatinib in human
breast cancers in vivo.
Inclusion Criteria:
Patients must fulfill ALL the following inclusion criteria
- Female ≥18 years
- Histological or cytological diagnosis of breast carcinoma
- No prior treatment for current breast carcinoma
- Scheduled for upfront definitive breast cancer surgery (breast conserving surgery or
mastectomy with or without sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node
clearance)
- Estrogen receptor positive (>1%)
- Adequate bone marrow, renal and liver function
- Adequate organ function including the following:
- Bone marrow:
- Absolute neutrophil (segmented and bands) count (ANC) >= 1.5 x 109/L
- Platelets >= 100 x 109/L
- Hepatic:
- Bilirubin < = 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN),
- ALT or AST < = 2.5x ULN, (or < = 5 X with liver metastases)
- Renal:
- Creatinine < = 1.5x ULN
- Normal thyroid function
- Able to swallow pills
- Able to sign informed consent
- Able to comply with study-related procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients will be excluded from the study for any of the following reasons:
- Scheduled for neoadjuvant systemic therapy
- Concurrent administration of any other tumor therapy, including cytotoxic
chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and immunotherapy.
- Treatment within the last 28 days with any investigational drug.
- Major surgery within 28 days of study drug administration.
- Pregnancy.
- Breast feeding.
- Serious concomitant disorders that would compromise the safety of the patient or
compromise the patient's ability to complete the study, at the discretion of the
investigator.
- Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus.
- Second primary malignancy that is clinically detectable at the time of consideration
for study enrollment
- Symptomatic brain metastasis.
- History of significant neurological or mental disorder, including seizures or
dementia.