Author: RR

ASCO Guideline: PARP Inhibitors in the Management of Ovarian Cancer

RR

SUMMARY: It is estimated that in the United States, approximately 21,750 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020 and 13,940 women will die of the disease. Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, and accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Approximately 75% of the ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed with advanced disease. Approximately 85% of all ovarian cancers are epithelial in origin, and approximately 70% of all epithelial ovarian cancers are High-Grade Serous adenocarcinomas. Patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer are often treated with platinum based chemotherapy following primary surgical cytoreduction. Approximately 70% of these patients will relapse within the subsequent 3 years and are incurable, with a 5 year Overall Survival rate of about 20-30%.

Germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for about 17% of ovarian cancers (mutations present in all individual cells), whereas somatic mutations are found in an additional 7% (mutations present exclusively in tumor cells). BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes and they recognize and repair double strand DNA breaks via Homologous Recombination (HR) pathway. Homologous Recombination is a DNA repair pathway utilized by cells to accurately repair DNA double-stranded breaks during the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle, and thereby maintain genomic integrity. The PARP (Poly ADP Ribose Polymerase) family of enzymes include PARP1 and PARP2, and is a related enzymatic pathway that repairs single strand breaks in DNA. In a BRCA mutant, the cancer cell relies solely on PARP pathway for DNA repair to survive. PARP inhibitors traps PARP onto DNA at sites of single-strand breaks, thereby preventing their repair and generate double-strand breaks. These breaks cannot be repaired accurately in tumors harboring defects in Homologous Recombination Repair pathway genes, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, and this leads to cumulative DNA damage and tumor cell death.

This systematic review-based guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary ASCO Expert Panel to provide clinicians and other health care practitioners, recommendations on the use of PARP inhibitors for management of Epithelial Ovarian, tubal, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer (herein referred to as EOC), based on best available evidence. The recommendations were developed following a systematic review of the literature which identified 17 randomized controlled trials published from 2011 through 2020, that included patients who have not previously received a PARP inhibitor.

ASCO Guideline Questions:
1) Should PARP inhibitor therapy for EOC be repeated over the course of treatment?
2) In which patients with newly diagnosed EOC are PARP inhibitors recommended?
a. What are the histologic types of EOC for which PARP inhibitors are recommended?
b. What are the biomarker subsets for which PARP inhibitors are recommended?
3) Is PARP inhibitor monotherapy recommended for recurrent EOC? If so,
a. In which settings (eg, second-line maintenance or treatment of recurrent disease)?
b. At what dose and duration?
4) Are there settings where PARP inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy or other targeted therapy are recommended?
5) How should clinicians manage the specific toxicities of the various PARP inhibitors?

Recommendations: The following recommendations pertain only to patients with EOC who have not previously received a PARP inhibitor.

Repeating PARP Inhibitor

Recommendation 1.0: Repeating therapy with a PARP inhibitor in the treatment of EOC is not recommended at this time. Consideration should be made as to the best time in the life cycle of an individual patient’s EOC in which to use PARP inhibitor. Clinical trial participation is encouraged.

Newly Diagnosed Ovarian Cancer

Recommendation 2.0: PARP inhibitors are not recommended for use in initial treatment of early stage (Stage I-II) EOC because there is insufficient evidence to support use in this population.

Recommendation 2.1: Women with newly diagnosed Stage III-IV EOC that is in Complete or Partial Response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy should be offered PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy with Olaparib (for those with germline or somatic pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes) or Niraparib (all women) in High-Grade Serous or endometrioid ovarian cancer.
PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy should consist of Olaparib (300 mg orally every 12 hours for 2 years) or Niraparib (200-300 mg orally daily for 3 years). Longer duration could be considered in selected individuals.

Recommendation 2.2: The addition of Olaparib to Bevacizumab maintenance may be offered to patients who have Stage III-IV High-Grade Serous or endometrioid ovarian cancer and germline or somatic pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes and/or genomic instability, as determined by Myriad myChoice CDx, and who have had a Partial or Complete Response to chemotherapy plus Bevacizumab combination.

Recommendation 2.3: Inclusion of the PARP inhibitor Veliparib with combination chemotherapy followed by Veliparib maintenance therapy cannot be recommended at this time. There are no data that this approach is superior, equal, or less toxic than a switch maintenance.
Note: Veliparib is not commercially available at the time of these recommendations.

Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: Second-Line or Greater Maintenance and Treatment

Recommendation 3.0: PARP inhibitor monotherapy maintenance (second-line or more) may be offered to patients with EOC who have not already received a PARP inhibitor and who have responded to platinum-based therapy regardless of BRCA mutation status. Treatment is continued until disease progression or toxicity despite dose reductions and best supportive care. Options include Olaparib 300 mg every 12 hours, Rucaparib 600 mg every 12 hours or Niraparib 200-300 mg once daily.

Recommendation 3.1: Treatment with a PARP inhibitor should be offered to patients with recurrent EOC who have not already received a PARP inhibitor and have a germline or somatic pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. Options include Olaparib 300 mg every 12 hours, Rucaparib 600 mg every 12 hours or Niraparib 200-300 mg once daily.

Recommendation 3.2: Treatment with a PARP inhibitor monotherapy should be offered to patients with recurrent EOC who have not already received a PARP inhibitor, and whose tumor demonstrates genomic instability, as determined by Myriad myChoice CDx, and has not recurred within 6 months of platinum-based therapy

Recommendation 3.3: PARP inhibitors are not recommended for treatment of BRCA wild-type or platinum-resistant recurrent EOC

PARP Inhibitors in Combination

Recommendation 4.0: PARP inhibitors are not recommended for use in combination with chemotherapy, other targeted agents, or immune-oncology agents in the recurrent setting outside the context of a clinical trial. Clinical trial participation is encouraged.

Management of Adverse Events

Recommendation 5.0 Anemia: Patients requiring a blood transfusion for symptom relief and/or hemoglobin level less than 8 g/dL should be monitored. PARP inhibitor dose should be reduced with evidence of repeated anemia to avoid multiple transfusions. Patients with progressive anemia may be offered growth factor per ASCO guidelines and physician and patient comfort.

Recommendation 5.1 Neutropenia: Growth factor is not indicated for use in patients receiving daily PARP inhibitor. Neutropenia (grade 4 lasting at least 5-7 days or associated with fever) should result in dose hold until recovery of infection and granulocyte count, followed by dose reduction. Growth factor support may be used in this setting to support patient safety during the drug hold period.

Recommendation 5.2 Platelets: Thrombocytopenia is most common with Niraparib. Niraparib dosing guidelines should be used to lower starting dose (200 mg) based on weight and platelet count. Discontinue PARP inhibitor for persistent thrombocytopenia or significant bleeding despite dose reduction.

Recommendation 5.3 Persistent cytopenia: Evaluation for treatment-related Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia should be initiated in patients with persistent cytopenia that occurs despite drug hold.

Recommendation 5.4 Nausea: Many patients will have tachyphylaxis of nausea symptoms over the first cycle of therapy. Persistent nausea requiring daily antiemetic intervention, causing a reduction in performance status, and/or resulting in more than 5% weight loss, should result in dose reduction.

PARP Inhibitors in the Management of Ovarian Cancer: ASCO Guideline. Tew WP, Lacchetti C, Ellis A, et al. J Clin Oncol 2020;38:3468-3493.

FDA Approves XPOVIO® for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

RR

SUMMARY: The FDA on December 18, 2020 approved XPOVIO® (Selinexor) in combination with VELCADE® (Bortezomib) and Dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. Multiple Myeloma is a clonal disorder of plasma cells in the bone marrow and the American Cancer Society estimates that in the United States, 32,270 new cases will be diagnosed in 2020 and 12,830 patients are expected to die of the disease. Multiple Myeloma (MM) in 2020 remains an incurable disease. The therapeutic goal therefore is to improve Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS). Multiple Myeloma is a disease of the elderly, with a median age at diagnosis of 69 years and characterized by intrinsic clonal heterogeneity. Almost all patients eventually will relapse, and patients with a high-risk cytogenetic profile or refractory disease have the worst outcomes. The median survival for patients with myeloma is over 10 years.

Exportin 1 (XPO1) is an important nuclear export protein overexpressed in multiple myeloma. High XPO1 levels facilitate increased nuclear export of tumor suppressor proteins such as P53, P73, IkB and FOXO3a, pRb, BRCA1, as well as growth regulators such as Glucocorticoid Receptor and oncoprotein mRNA. This enables cancer cells to escape tumor suppressor protein mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. XPOVIO® is an oral selective XPO1inhibitor that reactivates the tumor suppressor proteins by preventing nuclear transport, inhibits oncoprotein translation and reactivates Glucocorticoid Receptor signaling in the presence of Dexamethasone. In a Phase Ib/II study, the combination of XPOVIO® along with VELCADE® (a Proteasome Inhibitor) and Dexamethasone induced high response rates with low rates of peripheral neuropathy.

The present FDA approval for XPOVIO® was based on findings from the BOSTON trial, which is a multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled Phase III study, conducted to evaluate the clinical benefit of weekly XPOVIO®, VELCADE® (Bortezomib), and Dexamethasone, versus standard VELCADE® and Dexamethasone, in patients with previously treated multiple myeloma. In this study, 402 patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either XPOVIO® 100 mg PO once weekly, VELCADE® 1.3 mg/m2 SC once weekly, and Dexamethasone 20 mg PO twice weekly, or VELCADE® 1.3 mg/m2 SC twice weekly for the first 24 weeks and once weekly thereafter, and Dexamethasone 20 mg four times per week for the first 24 weeks and twice weekly thereafter. The median patient age was 67 years and 32% of the patients had 2 prior lines of therapy, including prior REVLIMID® (Lenalidomide) in 38% and prior VELCADE® in 69%. Approximately 48% of the patients had high-risk cytogenetics which included del(17p), t(4;14), t(14;16) or amp(1q21). The Primary endpoint was Progression Free Survival (PFS), and Secondary endpoints included Objective Response Rate (ORR), Duration of Response (DoR), Overall Survival (OS) and Safety.

It was noted that the median PFS was 13.9 months in the XPOVIO® group and 9.5 months for the control group (HR=0.70; P=0.0075). This represented a 30% reduction in the risk of progression or death with the XPOVIO® triplet combination. This benefit was consistently noted across all subgroups including those with high-risk cytogenetics. The ORR was 76.4% in the XPOVIO® group versus 62.3% in the control group (P=0.0012), and the significantly higher ORR again was noted across subgroups. The median Duration of Response was 20.3 months versus 12.9 months in the XPOVIO® group and the control group, respectively. The most common adverse events in the XPOVIO® group included cytopenias, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, asthenia, decreased appetite and weight loss.

It was concluded that weekly regimen of XPOVIO® given along with VELCADE® and Dexamethasone, is a novel, effective, and convenient treatment option, for patients with multiple myeloma, who have received one to three prior lines of therapy.

Once-per-week selinexor, bortezomib, and dexamethasone versus twice-per-week bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with multiple myeloma (BOSTON): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Grosicki S, Simonova M, Spicka I, et al. Lancet. 2020;396:1563-1573.

FDA Approves MARGENZA® for HER2 Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

RR

SUMMARY: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US and about 1 in 8 women (13%) will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Approximately 276,480 new cases of invasive female breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2020 and about 42,170 women will die of the disease. The HER or erbB family of receptors consist of HER1, HER2, HER3 and HER4. Approximately 15-20% of invasive breast cancers overexpress HER2/neu oncogene, which is a negative predictor of outcomes without systemic therapy. Patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer are often treated with anti-HER2 targeted therapy along with chemotherapy, irrespective of hormone receptor status, and this has resulted in significantly improved treatment outcomes. HER2 oncoprotein is also expressed by tumor cells in gastroesophageal and other solid tumors.

HER2-targeted therapies include HERCEPTIN® (Trastuzumab), TYKERB® (Lapatinib), PERJETA® (Pertuzumab) and KADCYLA® (Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine). Dual HER2 blockade with HERCEPTIN® and PERJETA®, given along with chemotherapy (with or without endocrine therapy), as first line treatment, in HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer patients, was shown to significantly improve Progression Free Survival (PFS) as well as Overall Survival (OS). The superior benefit with dual HER2 blockade has been attributed to differing mechanisms of action and synergistic interaction between HER2 targeted therapies. Patients progressing on Dual HER2 blockade often receive KADCYLA® which results in an Objective Response Rate (ORR) of 44% and a median PFS of 9.6 months, when administered after HERCEPTIN® and a taxane. There is however no standard treatment option for this patient population following progression on KADCYLA®.MOA-of-MARGENZA

MARGENZA® (Margetuximab-cmkb) is an Fc-engineered, monoclonal antibody that binds to the HER2 oncoprotein with high specificity and affinity and inhibits tumor cell proliferation, and survival by mediating Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC). It is postulated that the Fab portion of MARGENZA® has the same specificity and affinity to HER2 oncoprotein as Trastuzumab, with similar ability to disrupt signaling. However, the modified Fc region of MARGENZA® which binds Fc receptor expressing cells such as immune cells, has increased affinity for activating Fc receptor FCGR3A (CD16A) and decreases affinity for inhibitory Fc receptor FCGR2B (CD32B). These changes lead to greater ADCC and Natural Killer cell activation.

The SOPHIA study is a randomized, multicenter, open-label Phase III clinical trial, in which MARGENZA® plus chemotherapy was compared to Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, who have previously been treated with anti-HER2-targeted therapies. This study enrolled 536 patients who were randomized 1:1 to receive either MARGENZA® 15 mg/kg IV every three weeks (N=266) or Trastuzumab 6 mg/kg (or 8 mg/kg for loading dose) IV every three weeks (N=270), in combination with either Capecitabine, Eribulin, Gemcitabine or Vinorelbine, given at the standard doses. All study patients had previously received Trastuzumab, all but one patient had previously received PERJETA® (Pertuzumab), and 91% of patients had previously received KADCYLA®. Patients were stratified by choice of chemotherapy, number of lines of therapy in the metastatic setting and number of metastatic sites. The dual Primary endpoints of the study were Progression Free Survival (PFS) by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) and Overall Survival (OS). Additional efficacy outcome measures included Objective Response Rate (ORR) and Duration of Response (DOR) assessed by BICR.

This study demonstrated a statistically significant 24% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death with MARGENZA® plus chemotherapy compared with Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy (HR= 0.76; P=0.033), with a median PFS of 5.8 months versus 4.9 months respectively. Treatment benefit was more pronounced in patients with CD16A genotypes containing a 158F allele (median PFS 6.9 versus 5.1 months, HR=0.68; P=0.005). The ORR for MARGENZA® plus chemotherapy was 22%, with a median Duration of Response of 6.1 months, compared to an ORR of 16% and median Duration of Response of 6.0 months for Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy. The final Overall Survival (OS) analysis is expected in the second half of 2021. The most common adverse drug reactions occurring in more than 10% of patients receiving MARGENZA® plus chemotherapy included fatigue/asthenia, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, pyrexia, alopecia, abdominal pain, peripheral neuropathy, arthralgia/myalgia, cough, dyspnea, infusion-related reactions, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, and extremity pain.

It was concluded that MARGENZA® in combination with chemotherapy significantly improved PFS, compared to Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy, in pretreated patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer. MARGENZA® along with chemotherapy represents the newest treatment option for patients who have progressed on available HER2-directed therapies.

SOPHIA primary analysis: A phase 3 study of margetuximab + chemotherapy (C) versus trastuzumab + C in patients with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer after prior anti-HER2 therapies. Rugo HS, Im SA, Shaw Wright GL, et al. J Clin Oncol 37, 2019 (suppl; abstr 1000)

FDA Approves ORGOVYX® for Advanced Prostate Cancer

RR

SUMMARY: The FDA on December 18, 2020 approved the first oral Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist, ORGOVYX® (Relugolix), for adult patients with advanced prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men with the exclusion of skin cancer, and 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. It is estimated that in the United States, about 191,930 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2020 and 33,330 men will die of the disease. The development and progression of prostate cancer is driven by androgens. Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) or testosterone suppression has therefore been the cornerstone of treatment of advanced prostate cancer, and is the first treatment intervention. Androgen Deprivation Therapies have included bilateral orchiectomy or Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) analogues, with or without first generation Androgen Receptor (AR) inhibitors such as CASODEX® (Bicalutamide), NILANDRON® (Nilutamide) and EULEXIN® (Flutamide) or with second generation anti-androgen agents, which include ZYTIGA® (Abiraterone), XTANDI® (Enzalutamide), ERLEADA® (Apalutamide) and NUBEQA® (Darolutamide).

Androgen Deprivation Therapies such as GnRH analogs/Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (LHRH) agonists are standard treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer. These agents when first administered trigger an initial surge in Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), and testosterone levels. With continuous administration, LHRH agonists desensitize the pituitary receptor and suppress the production of Luteinizing Hormone and testosterone, thus blocking the pulsatile secretion of GnRH by the hypothalamus. LHRH agonists however do not fully suppress FSH which is a potential mitogenic growth factor for prostate cancer cells. The initial testosterone surge may result in flaring up of symptoms such as bone pain, obstructive urinary symptoms, and rarely spinal cord compression. For this reason, anti-androgen agents are recommended for the first few weeks after initiation of an LHRH agonist. LHRH agonists have been shown to increase the near-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, by promoting plaque destabilization and rupture.

Degarelix (FIRMAGON®) is a GnRH antagonist, and the depot injection was approved by the FDA in December 2018. Degarelix suppresses both Luteinizing Hormone and FSH, resulting in rapid testosterone suppression, without an initial testosterone surge. This agent however has to be administered monthly and approximately 40% of patients experience reactions at the injection site.

ORGOVYX® is a highly selective, GnRH antagonist that can be given orally once daily, and has a half-life of 25 hours. In multiple Phase I and Phase II studies, ORGOVYX® has been shown to lower testosterone levels by rapidly inhibiting the pituitary release of Luteinizing Hormone and FSH. The HERO trial is a multinational, randomized, open-label, Phase III study, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of ORGOVYX®, an oral GnRH antagonist, as compared with those of Leuprolide (LUPRON®) (GnRH agonist), in men with advanced prostate cancer. In this study, a total of 930 patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive either ORGOVYX® 120 mg orally once daily, after a single oral loading dose of 360 mg (N=622) or Leuprolide acetate 22.5 mg IM every 3 months (N=308), for 48 weeks.MOA-of-GnRH-Agonists-and-Antagonists

Eligible patients had one of three clinical disease presentations: 1) Evidence of biochemical (PSA) or clinical relapse after local primary intervention with curative intent. 2) Newly diagnosed hormone-sensitive metastatic disease. 3) Advanced localized disease unlikely to be cured by local primary intervention with curative intent. Patients with major adverse cardiovascular events within 6 months before trial initiation were excluded. Patients were stratified according to the presence or absence of metastatic disease, as well as age (75 yrs or less, and over 75 years). Approximately 32% of patients had metastatic disease and 50% had biochemical recurrence after definitive treatment. The Primary endpoint was sustained testosterone suppression to castrate levels (less than 50 ng/dL) through 48 weeks. Secondary end points included noninferiority of ORGOVYX® to Leuprolide with respect to sustained castration rate, castrate levels of testosterone on day 4, and profound castrate levels (less than 20 ng/dL) on day 15. Testosterone recovery after discontinuation of the trial drug was to be evaluated in a subgroup of patients. The median follow up time in both groups, including the 30-day safety follow-up period for adverse events, was 52 weeks.

ORGOVYX® was associated with a significantly higher rate of maintained castrate levels of testosterone, when compared to Leuprolide. Castrate levels of testosterone were maintained through 48 weeks in 96.7% of patients in the ORGOVYX® group compared to 88.8% of patients in the Leuprolide group. The difference of 7.9 percentage points showed noninferiority as well as superiority of ORGOVYX® (P<0.001 for superiority) over Leuprolide. All other key Secondary end points showed superiority of ORGOVYX® over Leuprolide (P<0.001). These endpoints included the percentage of patients with castrate levels of testosterone on day 4 (56% versus 0%) and on day 15 (98.7% versus 12%), testosterone suppression to less than 20ng/dL on day 15 (78.4% versus 1%) and confirmed PSA response of more than 50% decrease at day 15 (79.4% versus 19.8%; P<0.001). In the subgroup of 184 patients followed for testosterone recovery, the mean testosterone level 90 days after treatment discontinuation was 288.4 ng/dL in the ORGOVYX® group and 58.6 ng/dL in the Leuprolide group. The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events among all the patients was 2.9% in the ORGOVYX® group and 6.2% in the Leuprolide group (HR=0.46).

The authors concluded that in this trial involving men with advanced prostate cancer, ORGOVYX® achieved rapid and sustained suppression of testosterone levels that was superior to that with Leuprolide, with a 54% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.

Oral Relugolix for Androgen-Deprivation Therapy in Advanced Prostate Cancer. Shore ND, Saad F, Cookson MS, et al. for the HERO Study Investigators. N Engl J Med 2020; 382:2187-2196.

SABCS 2020: Ongoing Benefit with VERZENIO® in High Risk Early Stage Breast Cancer

RR

SUMMARY: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US and about 1 in 8 women 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Approximately 279,100 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2020 and about 42,690 individuals will die of the disease largely due to metastatic recurrence. About 70% of breast tumors express Estrogen Receptors and/or Progesterone Receptors, and Hormone Receptor (HR)-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed molecular subtype. Majority of these patients are diagnosed with early stage disease and are often cured with a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. However approximately 20% of patients will experience local recurrence or distant relapse during the first 10 years of treatment. This may be more relevant for those with high risk disease, among whom the risk of recurrence is even greater during the first 2 years while on adjuvant endocrine therapy, due to primary endocrine resistance. More than 75% of the early recurrences are seen at distant sites.

Cyclin Dependent Kinases (CDKs) play a very important role to facilitate orderly and controlled progression of the cell cycle. Genetic alterations in these kinases and their regulatory proteins have been implicated in various malignancies. CDK 4 and 6 phosphorylate RetinoBlastoma protein (RB), and initiate transition from the G1 phase to the S phase of the cell cycle. RetinoBlastoma protein has antiproliferative and tumor-suppressor activity and phosphorylation of RB protein nullifies its beneficial activities. CDK4 and CDK6 are activated in hormone receptor positive breast cancer, promoting breast cancer cell proliferation. Further, there is evidence to suggest that endocrine resistant breast cancer cell lines depend on CDK4 for cell proliferation. The understanding of the role of Cyclin Dependent Kinases in the cell cycle, has paved the way for the development of CDK inhibitors.Cell-Cycle-Inhibition-by-ABEMACICLIB-A-CDK4-and-CDK6-Inhibitor

VERZENIO® (Abemaciclib) is an oral, selective inhibitor of CDK4 and CDK6 kinase activity, and prevents the phosphorylation and subsequent inactivation of the Rb tumor suppressor protein, thereby inducing G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibition of cell proliferation. VERZENIO® is structurally distinct from other CDK 4 and 6 inhibitors (such as Ribociclib and Palbociclib) and is 14 times more potent against cyclin D1/CDK 4 and cyclin D3/CDK 6, in enzymatic assays, but potentially less toxic than earlier pan-CDK inhibitors. At higher doses, only VERZENIO® causes significant cancer cell death, compared with other CDK4/6 inhibitors, suggesting that this drug may be affecting proteins, other than CDK4/6. Additionally, preclinical studies have demonstrated that VERZENIO® may have additional therapeutic benefits for a subset of tumors that are unresponsive to treatment or have grown resistant to other CDK4/6 inhibitors. It has also been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier.

VERZENIO® is presently approved by the FDA as monotherapy as well as in combination with endocrine therapy for patients with HR-positive, HER2- negative advanced breast cancer. The addition of VERZENIO® to FASLODEX® resulted in a statistically significant improvement in Overall Survival among patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, who had progressed on prior endocrine therapy. The goal of monarchE was to evaluate the additional benefit of adding a CDK4/6 inhibitor to endocrine therapy in the adjuvant setting, for patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, high risk early breast cancer.

The International monarchE trial, is an open-label, randomized, Phase III study, which included 5637 patients, who were pre- and postmenopausal, with HR-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer, and with clinical and/or pathologic risk factors that rendered them at high risk for relapse. The researchers defined high risk as the presence of four or more positive axillary lymph nodes, or 1-3 three positive axillary lymph nodes, with either a tumor size of 5 cm or more, histologic Grade 3, or centrally tested high proliferation rate (Ki-67 of 20% or more). Following completion of primary therapy which included both adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to VERZENIO® 150 mg orally twice daily for 2 years plus 5 to 10 years of physicians choice of endocrine therapy as clinically indicated (N=2808), or endocrine therapy alone (N=2829). The median patient age was 51 years, about 43% of the patients were premenopausal, and 95% of patients had prior chemotherapy. Approximately 60% of patients had 4 or more positive lymph nodes. The Primary endpoint was Invasive Disease Free Survival (IDFS), and Secondary end points included distant Relapse Free Survival, Overall Survival, and safety. At a preplanned interim analysis, the addition of VERZENIO® to endocrine therapy resulted in a 25% reduction in the risk of developing a Invasive Disease Free Survival (IDFS) event, relative to endocrine therapy alone. Following the positive interim analysis, patients continued to be followed for IDFS, distant recurrence, and Overall Survival. The current study describes outcomes following an extended follow up of this trial, with a median follow up time of 19 months.

At the time of this primary outcome analysis, 1,437 patients (25.5%) had completed the two-year treatment period and 3,281 patients (58.2%) were in the two-year treatment period. The combination of VERZENIO® plus endocrine therapy continued to demonstrate superior Invasive Disease Free Survival (IDFS) compared to endocrine therapy alone, with a 28.7% reduction in the risk of developing invasive disease (P=0.0009; HR=0.713). The 2-year IDFS in the combination group was 92.3% and 89.3% in the endocrine therapy alone treatment group. This IDFS benefit with VERZENIO® was consistently noted in all prespecified subgroups. Further, there was an improvement in the 2-year distant Relapse Free Survival rate among patients who received the combination treatment compared with those who received endocrine therapy alone (93.8% versus 90.8%, respectively). Overall Survival data was immature at the time of analysis.

The researchers also evaluated outcomes among 2,498 patients with centrally assessed high tumor Ki-67 status. Among patients in this cohort, those who received the combination treatment had a 30.9% decreased risk of invasive disease compared with those who received endocrine therapy alone (P=0.01; HR=0.691) and the 2-year IDFS rates in the combination group and the endocrine therapy alone group were 91.6% and 87.1%, respectively. There were no new safety signals observed with VERZENIO®.

It was concluded that at the time of this primary outcome analysis, VERZENIO® combined with endocrine therapy continued to demonstrate a clinically meaningful improvement in Invasive Disease Free Survival, among patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive, high risk, early breast cancer.

Primary outcome analysis of invasive disease-free survival for monarchE: abemaciclib combined with adjuvant endocrine therapy for high risk early breast cancer. O’Shaughnessy JA, Johnston S, Harbeck N, et al. Presented at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 8-11. Abstract. GS1-01.

ASH 2020: Subcutaneous DARZALEX® Plus Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone in Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

RR

SUMMARY: Multiple Myeloma is a clonal disorder of plasma cells in the bone marrow and the American Cancer Society estimates that in the United States, 32,270 new cases will be diagnosed in 2020 and 12,830 patients are expected to die of the disease. Multiple Myeloma (MM) in 2020 remains an incurable disease. The therapeutic goal therefore is to improve Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS). Multiple Myeloma is a disease of the elderly, with a median age at diagnosis of 69 years and characterized by intrinsic clonal heterogeneity. Almost all patients eventually will relapse, and patients with a high-risk cytogenetic profile or refractory disease have the worst outcomes. The median survival for patients with Myeloma is over 10 years.Mechanism-of-Action-of-Daratumumab

DARZALEX® is a human IgG1 antibody that targets CD38, a transmembrane glycoprotein abundantly expressed on malignant plasma cells and with low levels of expression on normal lymphoid and myeloid cells. DARZALEX® exerts its cytotoxic effect on myeloma cells by multiple mechanisms, including Antibody Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC), Complement Mediated Cytotoxicity and direct apoptosis. Additionally, DARZALEX® may have a role in immunomodulation by depleting CD38-positive regulator Immune suppressor cells, and thereby expanding T cells, in patients responding to therapy. DARZALEX® has activity as both a single agent and when combined with other standard regimens. POMALYST® (Pomalidomide) is a novel, oral, immunomodulatory drug which is far more potent than THALOMID® (Thalidomide) and REVLIMID®, and has been shown to be active in REVLIMID® and VELCADE® refractory patients. In the EQUULEUS Phase Ib study, intravenous DARZALEX® in combination with POMALYST® and Dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory Multiple Myeloma resulted in an Overall Response Rate (ORR) of 59% with Very Good Partial Response (VGPR) noted in 28% of patients, and Complete Response (CR) achieved in 6% of patients.

Recently published studies have concluded that the subcutaneous formulation of DARZALEX® resulted in non-inferior pharmacokinetics and efficacy compared to the current IV formulation, and also importantly offers the potential for a fixed-dose administration, shorter administration times and a lower rate of infusion-related reactions with improved safety profile.

APOLLO study is an open-label, randomized, multicenter, Phase III trial, conducted by the European Myeloma Network investigators, to evaluate SubCutaneous (SC) formulation of DARZALEX® in combination with POMALYST® (Pomalidomide) and Dexamethasone (D-Pd; N=151) versus POMALYST® (Pomalidomide) and Dexamethasone (Pd; N=153) alone in relapsed/refractory Multiple Myeloma patients who have received one or more prior lines of therapy including REVLIMID® (Lenalidomide) and a Proteasome Inhibitor. This study enrolled 304 patients with relapsed or refractory Multiple Myeloma, and prior treatment with anti-CD38 antibody or Pomalidomide was not permitted. Treatment for all patients consisted of POMALYST® 4 mg orally daily plus Dexamethasone 40 mg orally on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 (20 mg for patients aged 75 years or older), given every 28 days. Patients in the D-Pd group additionally received DARZALEX® 1800 mg SC co-formulated with recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20; ENHANZE® drug delivery technology, Halozyme, Inc.), given weekly for cycles 1 to 2, every 2 weeks for cycles 3 to 6, and every 4 weeks thereafter. The median age was 67 years, and 35% had high cytogenetic risk (presence of del17p, t[14;16], or t[4;14]). The median prior lines of therapy were 2, approximately 80% of patients were refractory to REVLIMID®, 48% of patients were refractory to a Proteosome Inhibitor, and 42% of patients were refractory to both agents. Treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The median duration of treatment was 11.5 months with D-Pd, compared with 6.6 months with Pd. The Primary endpoint was Progression Free Survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included Overall Response Rate (ORR), Very Good Partial Response (VGPR), Complete Response (CR), MRD negativity rate, Overall Survival (OS), and Safety.

The study met its Primary endpoint of improved PFS in the primary analysis. The median PFS for the D-Pd group was 12.4 months versus 6.9 months for Pd group (HR=0.63; P=0.0018). This represented a 37% reduction in the risk of progression or death in patients treated with D-Pd. Among patients who were refractory to REVLIMID®, median PFS was 9.9 months in the D-Pd group versus 6.5 months in the Pd group. This benefit was seen across all subgroups of patients, regardless of age, stage, prior line of therapy, REVLIMID® refractoriness and cytogenetic risk. D-Pd regimen was also superior to Pd regimen in terms of other endpoints, including ORR (69% versus 46%), VGPR or better (51% versus 20%), CR (25% versus 4%), and MRD negativity (9% versus 2%). Survival data are immature and follow up is ongoing. Infusion-related events were rare, and seen in 6% of patients treated with D-Pd, and local injection-site reactions which were all Grade 1 were seen in 2% of patients in the D-Pd group. Treatment discontinuation due to treatment-related adverse events, were similar for the D-Pd and Pd groups (2% versus 3%).

It was concluded that Subcutaneous DARZALEX® given along with POMALYST® and Dexamethasone significantly reduced the risk of progression or death by 37% in patients with relapsed/refractory Multiple Myeloma, compared to POMALYST® and Dexamethasone alone. The infusion-related reaction rate was very low and median duration of injection administration was short at 5 minutes. Subcutaneous DARZALEX® thus has a high likelihood of changing clinical practice, increasing convenience for patients and decreasing treatment burden.

Apollo: Phase 3 Randomized Study of Subcutaneous Daratumumab Plus Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone (D-Pd) Versus Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone (Pd) Alone in Patients (Pts) with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM). Dimopoulos MA, Terpos E, Boccadoro M, et al. Presented at the 62nd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, 2020. Abstract 412.