Neratinib efficacy and circulating tumor DNA detection of HER2 mutations in HER2 nonamplified metastatic breast cancer

Cynthia X. Ma, Ron Bose, Feng Gao, Rachel A. Freedman, Melinda L. Telli, Gretchen Kimmick, Eric Winer, Michael Naughton, Matthew P. Goetz, Christy Russell, Debu Tripathy, Melody Cobleigh, Andres Forero, Timothy J. Pluard, Carey Anders, Polly Ann Niravath, Shana Thomas, Jill Anderson, Caroline Bumb, Kimberly C. BanksRichard B. Lanman, Richard Bryce, Alshad S. Lalani, John Pfeifer, Daniel F. Hayes, Mark Pegram, Kimberly Blackwell, Philippe L. Bedard, Hussam Al-Kateb, Matthew J.C. Ellis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

161 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Based on promising preclinical data, we conducted a single-arm phase II trial to assess the clinical benefit rate (CBR) of neratinib, defined as complete/partial response (CR/PR) or stable disease (SD) 24 weeks, in HER2mut nonamplified metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), toxicity, and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) HER2mut detection. Experimental Design: Tumor tissue positive for HER2mut was required for eligibility. Neratinib was administered 240 mg daily with prophylactic loperamide. ctDNA sequencing was performed retrospectively for 54 patients (14 positive and 40 negative for tumor HER2mut). Results: Nine of 381 tumors (2.4%) sequenced centrally harbored HER2mut (lobular 7.8% vs. ductal 1.6%; P ¼ 0.026). Thirteen additional HER2mut cases were identified locally. Twenty-one of these 22 HER2mut cases were estrogen receptor positive. Sixteen patients [median age 58 (31–74) years and three (2–10) prior metastatic regimens] received neratinib. The CBR was 31% [90% confidence interval (CI), 13%–55%], including one CR, one PR, and three SD 24 weeks. Median PFS was 16 (90% CI, 8–31) weeks. Diarrhea (grade 2, 44%; grade 3, 25%) was the most common adverse event. Baseline ctDNA sequencing identified the same HER2mut in 11 of 14 tumor-positive cases (sensitivity, 79%; 90% CI, 53%–94%) and correctly assigned 32 of 32 informative negative cases (specificity, 100%; 90% CI, 91%–100%). In addition, ctDNA HER2mut variant allele frequency decreased in nine of 11 paired samples at week 4, followed by an increase upon progression. Conclusions: Neratinib is active in HER2mut, nonamplified MBC. ctDNA sequencing offers a noninvasive strategy to identify patients with HER2mut cancers for clinical trial participation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5687-5695
Number of pages9
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume23
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2017

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