A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-label, Phase II Trial Aiming to Evaluate the Impact of Pegfilgrastim on Trastuzumab Anti-tumor Effect and ADCC in Operable HER2 Positive Breast Cancer Patients
First preclinical data suggest that pegfilgrastim could constitute a potent adjuvant for immunotherapy with mAb possessing ADCC/ADCP properties as trastuzumab. Combined treatment of pegfilgrastim and trastuzumab should translate into an increased rate of pathological clinical response. Therefore the investigators' proposal is to evaluate the clinical and biological impact of pegfilgrastim in combination with trastuzumab + paclitaxel in HER2-positive early stage breast cancer patients. Breastimmune02 is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, Phase II trial. Operable HER2+ breast cancer patients previously treated with 4 cycles of standard adriamycine/cyclophosphamide (AC) chemotherapy will be randomized (1:1) to receive in the neoadjuvant setting:Arm A: weekly paclitaxel + trastuzumab (every 3 weeks, Q3W) + pegfilgrastim (Q3W) versus Arm B: weekly paclitaxel + trastuzumab (Q3W).Stratification criteria will be: cN0 versus cN1.
• Female patients aged ≥ 18 years at time of inform consent signature.
• Histologically proven HER2 positive breast cancer defined as 3+ staining intensity by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or a 2+ IHC staining intensity and HER2 gene amplification by FISH.Note: HER2 status will be determined as per institutional practice.
• Operable breast tumor with tumor size and staging: \> 20 mm, cN0 or cN1, M0 before any AC or FEC chemotherapy, and at least one measurable lesion ≥10 mm in longest diameter at inclusion according to RECIST 1.1.
• No radiological sign of disease progression at time of randomisation.
• Patient previously treated by 4 cycles of AC or 3 to 4 cycles of FEC without febrile neutropenia and without prior pegfilgrastim treatment.
• Availability of a representative formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor specimen from initial diagnosis (i.e. an archival paraffin block is preferred; or at least 20 unstained slides) with its histological report.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2
• Adequate organ function as defined by the following lab tests (to be carried out within 7 days prior C1D1):Bone marrow (Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 109/L, Platelet count \> 100 x 109/L, (without transfusion within 21 days prior to C1D1), Hemoglobin value ≥ 9 g/dL), Renal function (Calculated creatinine clearance by MDRD or CKD-EPI \>50 mL/min/1.73m2 or serum creatinine \< 1.5ULN), Liver function (Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 3ULN, Total serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 ULN (except for patients with Gilbert disease for whom a total serum bilirubin ≤3 ULN is acceptable), Coagulation (INR and aPTT≤ 1.5 ULN)
• Adequate cardiac function with Mean resting corrected QT interval (QTc), calculated using Fridericia's formula, ≤470ms obtained from 3 electrocardiograms (ECGs) and Systolic blood pressure \<160mmHg and Diastolic blood pressure \<100mmHg (hypertension controlled by standard medical treatment is allowed)
• Women of childbearing potential (entering the study after a confirmed menstrual period and who have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days before C1D1) must agree to use two methods of medically acceptable forms of contraception from the date of negative pregnancy test to 3 months after the last study drug intake
• Patients should be able and willing to comply with study visits and procedures as per protocol
• Patients should understand, sign, and date the written voluntary informed consent form at the screening visit prior to any protocol-specific procedures performed.
• Patients must be covered by a medical insurance.