Trastuzumab and vinorelbine or taxane chemotherapy for HER2+ metastatic breast cancer: The TRAVIOTA study

Abstract

650 Background: The optimal trastuzumab/chemotherapy regimen for advanced breast cancer is not known. We performed a multicenter, randomized clinical trial to compare TRastuzumab And VInorebline Or TAxane (TRAVIOTA) chemo- and bio-therapy combination treatment given on a weekly schedule for HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Eligible patients had stage IV breast cancer, measurable disease (by RECIST criteria), HER2+ tumors (IHC 3+ or FISH+), no prior chemotherapy or trastuzumab for advanced breast cancer, and LVEF > 50%. Patients were randomized 1:1 to trastuzumab (4 mg/kg loading dose, 2 mg/kg weekly thereafter) with either weekly vinorelbine (25 mg/m2) or weekly taxane (paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 or docetaxel 35 mg/m2, selected by the treating investigator). The primary endpoint was response rate. The study opened in August 2001 and planned to accrue 250 patients. It was closed in December 2003 having accrued only 85 patients. Results are presented for the 81 patients who received any protocol-based therapy. Results: Patients receiving trastuzumab and vinorelbine tended to have higher response rates and TTP than those assigned trastuzumab and taxane therapy but the results were not statistically significant (see Table ). Vinorelbine therapy was associated with more frequent grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicity and dose delay because of myelosuppression. Other toxicities generally reflected the known side effects of the chemotherapy agents. Conclusions: The TRAVIOTA study suggests at least comparable clinical activity of trastuzumab with vinorelbine as with weekly taxane chemotherapy in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer, with side effect profiles consistent with previous experience with these regimens. [Table: see text] [Table: see text]