Safety and efficacy of the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax in estrogen receptor (ER) and BCL2-positive metastatic breast cancer: The mBEP study.

Abstract

1044 Background: The anti-apoptotic protein BCL2 is overexpressed in ~85% of ER+ breast cancer (BC). Venetoclax (ABT-199), a BCL2 inhibitor approved for CLL (400 mg/day), synergizes with tamoxifen in preclinical patient derived xenograft models by increasing apoptosis. In the first study to evaluate venetoclax in solid tumors, we tested the safety and efficacy of this combination in ER+BCL2+ metastatic BC. Methods: A ‘3+3 design’ dose escalation phase 1b study enrolled women with ER+ ( > 1%), BCL2+ ( > 10%, mod-high) and HER2 non-amplified metastatic BC. Patients received escalating doses of venetoclax 200, 400, 600 or 800 mg/day with tamoxifen 20 mg/day. The primary objective was to determine dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) over 4 weeks. There was no limit to the number of prior lines of therapy. Results: Fifteen patients were enrolled (mean age 62 years, range 44-78; previous tamoxifen, 10 pts). Mean lines of prior therapy for metastatic BC was 2.5 (median 2, range 0-6) and included tamoxifen (6 pts). ESR1 mutations were present in ctDNA of 4 patients. Treatment was well tolerated, with no DLT observed. MTD was not reached; 6 patients received the maximal planned dose (800 mg). The most common adverse event (AE) was lymphopenia (67% Grade 1-2; 13% Grade 3; No Grade 4), followed by nausea (46%, Grade 1-2), which was readily managed. Of 13 women with measurable disease (RECIST v1.1), 4 (31%) had a partial response and 5 (38%) had stable disease (clinical benefit rate, 69%). For patients with a partial response, tumor regression was rapid (evident at first restaging) and occurred in the 400-800 mg dose levels. Two patients with non-measurable bone-only disease had clinically stable disease (1 ongoing > 64 weeks). The median duration of response has not yet been reached (range, 12 to > 64 weeks). Conclusions: We demonstrated the safety of tamoxifen and venetoclax in ER+BCL2+ metastatic BC, with preliminary evidence of clinically relevant activity. A dose expansion study including serial biopsy, ctDNA and PET scans is ongoing at the 800 mg/day recommended phase 2 dose. Sponsor: Royal Melbourne Hospital Clinical trial information: ISRCTN98335443 , ACTRN12615000702516.