Ribociclib plus aromatase inhibitor after pre-surgery chemo for HR-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer with leftover disease

Ribociclib Plus Aromatase Inhibitor Versus Aromatase Inhibitor Alone in Hormone Receptor-positive, HER2-negative Early Breast Cancer With Residual Disease After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: an Open-label, Multicenter, Randomized, Phase III Trial

This trial will test whether adding ribociclib to an aromatase inhibitor helps people with hormone receptor–positive, HER2–negative early breast cancer who still have invasive cancer after pre-surgery (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 446 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: Female
• Sponsor: Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, doxorubicin
• Locations: 4 sites (Zhanjiang, Guangdong and 3 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07400523 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a multicenter, open-label, randomized phase III trial comparing adjuvant ribociclib combined with an aromatase inhibitor versus an aromatase inhibitor alone in patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer who have residual invasive disease following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Eligible participants are randomized after surgery to receive the assigned oral therapy and are followed for safety and efficacy outcomes. Treatment selection and eligibility require confirmation of hormone receptor and HER2 status and Ki67 on available tumor tissue, preferably from core biopsy or residual disease. The trial collects clinical and safety data at scheduled visits to determine whether adding ribociclib improves outcomes compared with endocrine therapy alone.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adult women (age ≥18) with histologically confirmed HR-positive, HER2-negative early invasive breast cancer who have residual invasive disease in the breast or nodes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and available tumor tissue for receptor and Ki67 testing are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients without residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant therapy, or those whose tumors are HER2-positive or hormone receptor–negative, would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit from this trial's approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower the chance of the cancer coming back for patients with residual disease after pre-surgery chemotherapy.

How similar studies have performed: Other adjuvant trials of CDK4/6 inhibitors have had mixed results—abemaciclib showed benefit in a high-risk adjuvant setting while other agents and trials testing similar strategies have reported negative or inconsistent outcomes.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Willingness for study participation with written informed consent
* Female with age at least 18 years
* Histologically confirmed unilateral or bilateral primary invasive breast cancer
* Residual invasive disease post-neoadjuvant either in the breast or as residual nodal invasion
* Histologically confirmed hormone receptor-positive (≥1% ER and/or PR positive stained cells) and HER2-negative (IHC 2+ with FISH-negative or IHC 0-1+) assessed preferably on core biopsy of the breast or tissue from post-neoadjuvant residual invasive disease, or if no other tissue is available the residual tumor of the lymph node can be assessed. In case of bilateral breast cancer, tumor tissue of both sides needs to be assessable
* Histologically confirmed Ki67 expression assessed preferably on core biopsy or post-neoadjuvant residual invasive disease of the breast, or if not possible, of residual nodal invasion. In case of bilateral breast cancer, tumor tissue of both sides needs to be assessable
* QTc interval \< 450 msec with mean resting heart rate 50-99 beats/min (determined by ECG)
* Patients must have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy of at least 18 weeks. This period must include 6 weeks of a taxane-containing neoadjuvant therapy (Exception: For patients with progressive disease that occurred after at least 6 weeks of taxane-containing neoadjuvant treatment, a total treatment period of less than 18 weeks is also eligible)
* Adequate surgical treatment including resection of all clinically evident disease and ipsilateral axillary lymph node dissection. Histologically complete resection (R0) of the invasive and ductal in situ tumor is required in case of breast conserving surgery as the final treatment. No evidence of gross residual disease (R2) is required after total mastectomy (R1 resection is acceptable). Axillary dissection is not required in patients with a negative sentinel-node biopsy before (pN0, pN+\[mic\]) or after (ypN0, ypN+\[mic\]) neoadjuvant chemotherapy
* Less than 16 weeks interval since the date of final surgery or less than 10 weeks from completing radiotherapy (whichever occurs last) at date of randomization
* Completion of adjuvant radiotherapy according to standard guidelines (e.g. NCCN) is strongly recommended. If radiotherapy is not performed the reason for this needs to be documented in the eCRF
* No clinical evidence for locoregional or distant relapse during or after preoperative chemotherapy. Local progression during chemotherapy is not an exclusion criterion
* c/pT3N0; c/pT2N0 with MammaPrint high-risk, G3, G2+Ki67 ≥20%, or lymphovascular invasion
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 or 1
* Resolution of all acute toxic effects of prior anti-cancer therapy or surgical procedures to NCI CTCAE version 4.0 Grade ≤1 (except alopecia or other toxicities not considered a safety risk for the patient at investigator's discretion)
* Estimated life expectancy of at least 5 years irrespective of the diagnosis of breast cancer
* The patient must be accessible for scheduled visits, treatment and follow-up. Patients registered on this trial must be treated at the participating center which could be the Principal or a Co- investigator's site

Exclusion Criteria:

* c/pN+
* Known severe hypersensitivity reactions to compounds similar to ribociclib or to aromatase inhibitor
* Inadequate organ function immediate prior to randomization including: Hemoglobin \<10g/dL (100g/L); ANC \< 2000/mm³ (\< 2.0 x 10\^9/L); Platelets \<100,000/mm³ (\< 100 x 10\^9/L); AST or ALT \>1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN); alkaline phosphatase \> 2.5 x ULN, total serum bilirubin \> 1.25 x ULN; serum creatinine \>1.25 x ULN or estimated creatinine clearance \< 60 mL/min as calculated using the method standard for the institution; severe and relevant co-morbidity that would interact with the participation in the study
* Evidence for infection including wound infections, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or any type of Hepatitis
* The cumulative dose of doxorubicin is more than 450mg/m² or epirubicin is more than 900mg/m²
* Uncontrolled electrolyte disorders (eg, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia)
* Any of the following within 6 months of randomization: myocardial infarction, severe/unstable angina, ongoing cardiac dysrhythmias of NCI CTCAE version 4.0 Grade ≥2, atrial fibrillation of any grade, coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft, symptomatic congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident including transient ischemic attack, or symptomatic pulmonary embolism
* Active inflammatory bowel disease or chronic diarrhea, short bowel syndrome, or any upper gastrointestinal surgery including gastric resection
* Prior malignancy (including invasive or ductal in-situ breast cancer) within 5 years prior to randomization, except curatively treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin and carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* Current severe acute or uncontrolled chronic systemic disease (e.g. diabetes mellitus) or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or investigational product administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study
* Recent (within the past year) or active suicidal behavior
* Pregnancy or lactation period. Women of childbearing potential must implement adequate non-hormonal contraceptive measures (barrier methods, intrauterine contraceptive devices, sterilization) during study treatment and for 90 days after discontinuation. A serum pregnancy test must be negative in premenopausal women or women with amenorrhea of less than 12 months
* Major surgery within 2 weeks prior to randomization
* 10 weeks or more have passed since completion of radiotherapy at day of randomization and 16 weeks interval since the date of final surgery have passed
* Prior treatment with any CDK4/6 inhibitor
* Patients treated within the last 7 days prior to randomization and/or concurrent use of drugs known to be strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers
* Concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs. Participation in another clinical trial with any investigational not marketed drug within 30 days prior to randomization

Where this trial is running

Zhanjiang, Guangdong and 3 other locations

• Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University — Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China (RECRUITING)
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital — Guangzhou, China (RECRUITING)
• the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University — Guangzhou, China (RECRUITING)
• Shantou Central Hospital — Shantou, China (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Chang Gong, Professor

Conditions: Breast Cancer