EPIK-B5: A phase III, randomized study of alpelisib (ALP) plus fulvestrant (FUL) in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-), PIK3CA-mutated advanced breast cancer (ABC) progressing on/after an aromatase inhibitor (AI) with a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i).

Abstract

TPS1109 Background: Endocrine therapy (ET) + CDK4/6i is standard of care for HR+, HER2− ABC; however, CDK4/6i resistance, in which the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway has a key role, remains challenging. Progression-free survival (PFS) for ≥ 2nd-line ET monotherapy post CDK4/6i is poor; prognosis may be worse in patients with a PI3KCA mutation. ALP (PI3K-α selective inhibitor and degrader) + FUL is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for HR+, HER2–, PIK3CA-mutated ABC after ET monotherapy. Outside the EMA, ALP + FUL approval includes post-CDK4/6i use. ALP + FUL has shown clinical activity and consistent safety in a small subpopulation in SOLAR-1 with prior CDK4/6i treatment (n = 9) and in BYLieve Cohort A (CDK4/6i + AI as immediate prior treatment; n = 121). The EPIK-B5 study aims to confirm the efficacy and safety of ALP + FUL in a larger population with HR+, HER2–, PIK3CA-mutated ABC with prior CDK4/6i + AI treatment. Methods: EPIK-B5 is a Phase III, randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing the efficacy and safety of ALP (300 mg/d orally starting Cycle 1 Day 1 [C1D1]) + FUL (500 mg intramuscularly on C1D1 and C1D15, and D1 of subsequent cycles) in patients (N ≈ 234) with HR+, HER2–, PIK3CA-mutated ABC progressing on/after CDK4/6i + AI. Patients randomized to placebo + FUL can cross over to ALP + FUL after progression. Randomization is stratified by presence of lung and/or liver metastasis and prior CDK4/6i setting. Adult men or postmenopausal women with confirmed HR+, HER2–, PIK3CA-mutated ABC and ≥ 1 measurable lesion are eligible. The primary endpoint is PFS per blinded independent review committee assessment. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, overall response and clinical benefit rates, duration of and time to response, PFS by PIK3CA-mutation status in circulating tumor DNA, PFS on next-line treatment, time to definitive deterioration of ECOG status, quality of life (QoL), and safety and tolerability. Exploratory endpoints include biomarker analyses, additional QoL endpoints, and time to subsequent chemotherapy. Recruitment is ongoing, with enrollment planned over 2 years in 18 countries; completion of primary data collection is anticipated in 2026. Clinical trial information: NCT05038735; EUDRACT2021-001966-39.