Ethnic sensitivity assessment of the antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in patients with HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Abstract

Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is indicated for previously treated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Ethnic sensitivity assessment of T-DM1 was conducted using data from eight clinical studies to ensure that the clinically recommended dose is appropriate across ethnicities. Four approaches were used: (1) non-compartmental analysis (NCA) comparing pharmacokinetic parameters of T-DM1 and relevant analytes across ethnic groups, (2) population pharmacokinetic (popPK) analysis assessing the impact of ethnicity on pharmacokinetics, (3) comparison of T-DM1 pharmacokinetics in Japanese patients versus the global population, and (4) exposure-response analyses assessing the impact of ethnicity on safety and efficacy. NCA pharmacokinetic parameters (T-DM1, total trastuzumab, DM1) were comparable across ethnic groups; mean cycle 1 T-DM1 AUCinf was 475, 442, and 518dayµg/mL for white (n=461), Asian (n=68), and others (n=57), respectively. PopPK analysis showed that ethnicity (white, Asian, and others) was not a significant covariate for T-DM1 pharmacokinetics (n=671). Additionally, visual predictive check plots indicated that observed pharmacokinetic profiles in Japanese patients (n=42) were within the prediction interval generated from the final PopPK model. Exposure-response analyses showed that ethnicity was not a significant covariate impacting efficacy or hepatotoxicity risk, but there was a trend of greater thrombocytopenia risk among Asians versus non-Asians, which could not be explained by similar exposure between the ethnic groups. Most Asians with thrombocytopenia were able to continue T-DM1 using dose-adjustment rules recommended for the global population. These results suggest that T-DM1 pharmacokinetics are comparable across ethnic groups and that use of the current dosing regimen is appropriate across ethnicities.