Efficacy and Safety of Trastuzumab Emtansine Plus Capecitabine vs Trastuzumab Emtansine Alone in Patients With Previously Treated ERBB2 (HER2)-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Phase 1 and Randomized Phase 2 Trial

IMPORTANCE: ERBB2 (HER2)-targeted therapy provides benefits in metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and gastric cancer, but additional treatments are needed to maximize efficacy and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To determine maximum tolerated doses (MTDs) of trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) plus capecitabine in patients with previously treated ERBB2-positive mBC and locally advanced/metastatic gastric cancer (LA/mGC) (phase 1) and the efficacy and safety of this combination vs T-DM1 alone in patients with mBC (phase 2). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The MTD in phase 1 was assessed using a 3 + 3 design with capecitabine dose modification. Phase 2 was an open-label, randomized, international multicenter study of patients with mBC treated with T-DM1 plus capecitabine or T-DM1 alone. Eligible patients had previously treated ERBB2-positive mBC or LA/mGC with no prior chemotherapy treatment for advanced disease. INTERVENTIONS: Patients in the phase 1 mBC cohort received capecitabine (750 mg/m(2), 700 mg/m(2), or 650 mg/m(2) twice daily, days 1-14 of a 3-week cycle) plus T-DM1 3.6 mg/kg every 3 weeks. Patients with LA/mGC received capecitabine at the mBC phase 1 MTD, de-escalating as needed, plus T-DM1 2.4 mg/kg weekly. In phase 2, patients with mBC were randomized (1:1) to receive capecitabine (at the phase 1 MTD) plus T-DM1 or T-DM1 alone. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The phase 1 primary objective was to identify the MTD of capecitabine plus T-DM1. The phase 2 primary outcome was investigator-assessed overall response rate (ORR). RESULTS: In phase 1, the median (range) age was 54.0 (37-71) and 57.5 (53-70) years for patients with mBC and patients with LA/mGC, respectively. The capecitabine MTD was identified as 700 mg/m(2) in 11 patients with mBC and 6 patients with LA/mGC evaluable for dose-limiting toxic effects. In phase 2, between October 2014 and April 2016, patients with mBC (median [range] age, 52.0 [28-80] years) were randomized to receive combination therapy (n = 81) or T-DM1 (n = 80). The ORR was 44% (36 of 81 patients) and 36% (29 of 80 patients) in the combination and T-DM1 groups, respectively (difference, 8.2%; 90% CI, −4.5 to 20.9; P = .34; clinical cutoff, May 31, 2017). Adverse events (AEs) were reported in 78 of 82 patients (95%) in the combination group, with 36 (44%) experiencing grade 3-4 AEs, and 69 of 78 patients (88%) in the T-DM1 group, with 32 (41%) experiencing grade 3-4 AEs. No grade 5 AEs were reported. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Adding capecitabine to T-DM1 did not statistically increase ORR associated with T-DM1 in patients with previously treated ERBB2-positive mBC. The combination group reported more AEs, but with no unexpected toxic effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01702558