Comparing two chemotherapy regimens for high-risk ER+/HER2- breast cancer

A Randomized, Open-label, Single-center, Phase III Trial Comparing Docetaxel Plus Carboplatin (TCb) Versus Epirubicin Plus Cyclophosphamide Followed by Docetaxel (EC-T) Regimen as Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With LN≥4 Estrogen Receptor Positive and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Negative (ER+/HER2-) Breast Cancer

This study is testing which chemotherapy treatment works better for people with early-stage high-risk breast cancer that is estrogen receptor positive and HER2 negative after surgery.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 1736 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 70 Years
• Sex: Female
• Sponsor: Fudan University (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: trastuzumab, pertuzumab, lapatinib, neratinib, chemotherapy, cyclophosphamide
• Locations: 1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality)
• Trial ID: NCT05901428 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of a chemotherapy regimen combining docetaxel and carboplatin (TCb) against a conventional regimen of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel (EC-T) in patients with early-stage high-risk estrogen receptor positive and HER2 negative breast cancer. The trial aims to determine which treatment provides better outcomes for patients who have undergone surgery and are starting adjuvant chemotherapy. Participants will be closely monitored for efficacy and safety throughout the treatment process.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include women aged 18-70 with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer and at least four positive axillary lymph nodes.

Not a fit: Patients with metastatic disease or those who do not meet the specific eligibility criteria may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved treatment options and outcomes for patients with high-risk ER+/HER2- breast cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar chemotherapy regimens, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Women aged 18-70
2. Unilateral invasive carcinoma confirmed by histology (regardless of pathological type)
3. The initial diagnosis condition can be directly operated, without absolute surgical contraindications
4. No gross or microscopic tumor remains after surgical resection
5. Adjuvant chemotherapy should be started within eight weeks after surgery
6. Patients with Hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+HER2-), and positive axillary lymph nodes ≥4
7. Definition of ER and Progesterone Receptor (PgR) positive: Positive ER for tumor cells detected by immunohistochemistry is defined as ER positive , and positive PgR for tumor cells detected as PgR positive .
8. There was no evidence of metastasis in clinical or imaging aspects during preoperative examination
9. No peripheral neuropathy;
10. Eastern Oncology Collaborative Group (ECOG) physical status score: 0 or 1
11. Good postoperative recovery, at least 1 week interval between surgery
12. Adequate hematological and end-organ function as defined by the following laboratory test results, which need to be completed within 28 days prior to the first study treatment: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1500 cells/μL (no granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) support therapy within 2 weeks prior to day 1 of course 1); Lymphocyte count≥ 500 cells/μL; Platelet count≥ 100,000 cells/μL (no platelet transfusion within 2 weeks before day 1 of course 1; hemoglobin≥ 9.0 g/dL; Aspartate transferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase≤ 2.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.0 × ULN; Patients with known Gilbert disease and serum bilirubin levels ≤ 3× ULN may be admitted; For patients not receiving anticoagulant therapy: INR or activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) ≤ 1.5 × ULN within 28 days prior to initiation of study therapy; For patients receiving anticoagulant therapy: a stable anticoagulant regimen within 28 days before the start of study therapy and a stable International normalised ratio (INR); creatinine clearance≥ 30 mL/min (calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula); Serum albumin ≥ 2.5 g/dL
13. For women of childbearing age: agree to remain abstinent (avoid heterosexual intercourse) or take an annual failure rate for at least 5 months during treatment and at least 6 months after the last dose of docetaxel or epirubicin, or 12 months after the last dose of cyclophosphamide, whichever occurs last \< 1% of contraception. A woman who is postmenopausal but has not yet reached postmenopausal status (menopause lasts ≥for 12 consecutive months, for no reason other than menopause) and has not undergone sterilization (ovarian and/or hysterectomy) is considered fertile.
14. Cardiac function: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \>50% by ultrasound examination
15. Sign the Informed Consent Form (ICF)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Have a history of invasive cancer
2. T4 clinical tumors as specified in the Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor (UICC/AJCC) Tumor-Lymph Node Metastasis Classification (8th Edition), including inflammatory breast cancer
3. For currently diagnosed breast cancer, prior systemic anticancer therapy (eg, neoadjuvant therapy or adjuvant therapy) includes, but is not limited to, chemotherapy, anti-HER2 therapy (eg, trastuzumab emtansine, pertuzumab, lapatinib, neratinib or other tyrosine kinase inhibitors), hormone therapy, or anti-cancer radiotherapy (RT), except for treatments planned under this study condition
4. Previous treatment with anthracyclines or taxane for any malignant tumor
5. History of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and/or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), treatment of ipsilateral breast cancer with systemic therapy, hormone therapy, or RT, followed by invasive cancer, patients treated with DCIS/LCIS only surgery and/or RT for contralateral DCIS may be enrolled in the study.
6. Prior to randomization, cardiopulmonary dysfunction according to any of the following: history of NCI CTCAE v4.0 ≥3 symptomatic congestive heart failure or New York College of Cardiology (NYHA) standard classification≥ II, angina requiring antianginal drugs, severe arrhythmias not treated with appropriate medical therapy, severe conduction abnormalities, or clinically significant valvular disease, high-risk, uncontrolled arrhythmias (i.e., atrial tachycardia with \> resting rate). 100/min, significant ventricular arrhythmia \[ventricular tachycardia\], or high-grade atrioventricular (AV) block \[second-degree AV block type 2, or third-degree atrioventricular block\]), significant symptoms associated with left ventricular dysfunction, arrhythmia, or myocardial ischemia (grade ≥2), myocardial infarction within 12 hours prior to randomization; with uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure\> 180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure \> 100 mmHg; ECG findings show transmural infarction; Oxygen therapy is required
7. Prior malignancy within 5 years prior to randomization, with negligible risk of metastasis or death, except for malignancy that is expected to heal after treatment (i.e., appropriately treated carcinoma in situ or basal or squamous cell skin cancer).
8. Known allergic or hypersensitivity to any component of the docetaxel, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, or epirubicin preparations; Allergic or hypersensitivity reactions are known to filgrastim, pegfilgrastim, or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) preparations
9. Patients with serious infections (including but not limited to hospitalization due to infectious complications, bacteremia, or severe pneumonia) that occurred within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, who received therapeutic oral or intravenous antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, and who received prophylactic antibiotic therapy (such as prophylaxis for urinary tract infection or prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) may be enrolled.
10. Pregnant or lactating women, or women planning to become pregnant during the study period.
11. Poorly controlled hypertension (defined as: systolic blood pressure \> 150 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure \>100 mmHg)
12. Mental illness, cognitive impairment, inability to understand the trial protocol and side effects, and inability to complete the trial protocol and follow-up workers (systematic evaluation is required before trial enrollment)
13. Persons without personal freedom and independent capacity for civil conduct.

Where this trial is running

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality

• Breast cancer institute of Fudan University Cancer Hospital — Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China (Recruiting)

Conditions Hormone Receptor Positive HER-2 Negative Breast Cancer; LN≥4; TCb; EC-T