Project description:Gene expression data of HER2+ breast tumor samples Increasing evidence indicates that a subset of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer may achieve significant clinical benefit with anti-HER2 targeted therapy without chemotherapy. Thus, identification of biomarkers of long-term benefit from anti-HER2 agents is needed, especially in the metastatic setting. In the HERLAP study (NCT00842998), patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer were randomized to trastuzumab or lapatinib as first-line therapy. Patients showing radiological signs of tumor regression after 8 weeks of treatment were allowed to continue on single agent anti-HER2 therapy until disease progression. Chemotherapy was added to anti-HER-2 therapy in patients failing to achieve tumor regression at the 8-week evaluation and those progressing at any time. Expression analysis of 105 selected genes was performed from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded in 17 primary tumor samples. The research-based PAM50 intrinsic subtypes were also identified. The association of the expression of each biomarker with clinical outcome endpoints was evaluated. Nineteen patients were enrolled. In 4 patients (21.1%) we observed disease control lasting longer than 12 months with single agent anti-HER2 therapy (range 14.9-38.8 months). High expression of 17q12-21 amplicon genes HER2 and GRB7, and the PAM50 HER2-enriched intrinsic profile, were found significantly associated with 8-week overall response rate and with the duration of disease control during single agent anti-HER2 therapy. Conversely, high expression of luminal-related genes such as PGR, MDM2 or PIK3CA, or the PAM50 luminal intrinsic profile, was found associated with reduced benefit from single agent anti-HER2 therapy. Conclusions: Our data indicate that gene expression-based biomarkers can identify patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer that benefit substantially from single agent chemo-free anti-HER2 targeted therapy. In the study presented here, a well-defined cohort of 21 breast cancer cases from the HERLAP trial, was used to acquire expression profiles of a total of 105 unique genes
Project description:Gene expression data of HER2+ breast tumor samples Increasing evidence indicates that a subset of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer may achieve significant clinical benefit with anti-HER2 targeted therapy without chemotherapy. Thus, identification of biomarkers of long-term benefit from anti-HER2 agents is needed, especially in the metastatic setting. In the HERLAP study (NCT00842998), patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer were randomized to trastuzumab or lapatinib as first-line therapy. Patients showing radiological signs of tumor regression after 8 weeks of treatment were allowed to continue on single agent anti-HER2 therapy until disease progression. Chemotherapy was added to anti-HER-2 therapy in patients failing to achieve tumor regression at the 8-week evaluation and those progressing at any time. Expression analysis of 105 selected genes was performed from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded in 17 primary tumor samples. The research-based PAM50 intrinsic subtypes were also identified. The association of the expression of each biomarker with clinical outcome endpoints was evaluated. Nineteen patients were enrolled. In 4 patients (21.1%) we observed disease control lasting longer than 12 months with single agent anti-HER2 therapy (range 14.9-38.8 months). High expression of 17q12-21 amplicon genes HER2 and GRB7, and the PAM50 HER2-enriched intrinsic profile, were found significantly associated with 8-week overall response rate and with the duration of disease control during single agent anti-HER2 therapy. Conversely, high expression of luminal-related genes such as PGR, MDM2 or PIK3CA, or the PAM50 luminal intrinsic profile, was found associated with reduced benefit from single agent anti-HER2 therapy. Conclusions: Our data indicate that gene expression-based biomarkers can identify patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer that benefit substantially from single agent chemo-free anti-HER2 targeted therapy.
Project description:We studied the effect on tumour response to neoadjuvant therapy of the substitution of lapatinib for trastuzumab in combination with weekly paclitaxel after doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide treatment, and of the addition of lapatinib and trastuzumab combined after doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide treatment in patients with HER2-positive operable breast cancer to determine whether there would be a benefit of dual HER2 blockade in these patients.
Project description:A subgroup of patients with HER2-positive metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers shows long-term response under trastuzumab maintenance monotherapy. Obviously, HER2 status alone is not able to identify these patients. We performed this study to identify potential new prognostic biomarkers for this long-term responding patient group. Tumor samples of 18 patients with HER2-positive metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer who underwent trastuzumab treatment were retrospectively collected from multiple centers. Patients were divided into long-term responding (n=6) or fast-progression group (n=12) according to progression-free survival (PFS≥12 months vs PFS<12 months).We performed microarray-based gene expression analysis to investigate differences in immune cell populations between the patient groups.
Project description:The CHER-LOB randomized phase II study showed that the combination of lapatinib and trastuzumab plus chemotherapy increases the pathologic complete remission (pCR) rate as compared to chemotherapy plus either trastuzumab or lapatinib. An extensive biomarker programme was prospectively planned to identify potential predictors of sensitivity to different treatments and evaluate treatment effect on tumor biomarkers. A mutation in PIK3CA exon 20 or 9 was documented in 20% of the cases. Overall, the pCR rates were similar in PIK3CA wild type and PIK3CA mutated patients (33.3% vs 22.7%; p=0.323). However, for patients receiving trastuzumab plus lapatinib, the probability of pCR was higher in PIK3CA wild type tumors (48.4% vs 12.5%; p=0.06). Ki67, pAKT and apoptosis measured on the residual disease were significantly reduced from baseline. The degree of Ki67 inhibition was significantly higher in patients receiving the dual anti-HER2 blockade. In conclusion, PIK3CA mutations seem to identify patients less likely to benefit from dual anti-HER2 inhibition. p95-HER2 and markers of PI3K pathway deregulation are not confirmed as markers of different sensitivity to trastuzumab or lapatinib.
Project description:The CHER-LOB randomized phase II study showed that the combination of lapatinib and trastuzumab plus chemotherapy increases the pathologic complete remission (pCR) rate as compared to chemotherapy plus either trastuzumab or lapatinib. An extensive biomarker programme was prospectively planned to identify potential predictors of sensitivity to different treatments and evaluate treatment effect on tumor biomarkers. A mutation in PIK3CA exon 20 or 9 was documented in 20% of the cases. Overall, the pCR rates were similar in PIK3CA wild type and PIK3CA mutated patients (33.3% vs 22.7%; p=0.323). However, for patients receiving trastuzumab plus lapatinib, the probability of pCR was higher in PIK3CA wild type tumors (48.4% vs 12.5%; p=0.06). Ki67, pAKT and apoptosis measured on the residual disease were significantly reduced from baseline. The degree of Ki67 inhibition was significantly higher in patients receiving the dual anti-HER2 blockade. In conclusion, PIK3CA mutations seem to identify patients less likely to benefit from dual anti-HER2 inhibition. p95-HER2 and markers of PI3K pathway deregulation are not confirmed as markers of different sensitivity to trastuzumab or lapatinib.
Project description:Alterations in the histone methylation profiles are observed in various types of cancer and targeting of this epigenetic process has therapeutic potential. Here we provide proof-of-principle that pharmacological targeting of KDM5 histone-demethylases is a new strategy for the personalized treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. This analysis demonstrates that cells characterized by HER2-positivity are particularly sensitive to KDM5 inhibition. The results are confirmed in an appropriate in vivo model with a close structural analogue (KDM5-inh1A). In selected HER2-positive breast cancer cells, we demonstrate synergistic interactions between KDM5-inh1 and HER2-targeting agents (trastuzumab and lapatinib). In addition, HER2-positive cell lines showing innate/acquired resistance to trastuzumab show sensitivity to KDM5-inh1. The levels of KDM5A/B/C proteins, which are selectively targeted by the agent, have no significant association with KDM5-inh1 responsiveness across our panel of breast cancer cell lines, suggesting the existence of other determinants of sensitivity. Using RNA-sequencing data of the breast cancer cell lines, we generate a gene-expression model, consisting of fifteen genes, which is a robust predictor of KDM5-inh1 sensitivity. In a test set of breast cancers, this model correctly predicts sensitivity to the compound in a large fraction of HER2+ tumors. In conclusion, KDM5 inhibition has potential in the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer and our gene-expression model can be developed into a diagnostic tool to select patients who may benefit from treatments based on KDM5-inhibitors.
Project description:Adjuvant docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab (TCH) is a standard regimen for HER2+ breast cancer. Dual HER2-blockade with lapatinib (L) and trastuzumab demonstrated significant activity in the metastatic and neoadjuvant settings. This study evaluates neoadjuvant TC plus trastuzumab (H) and/or lapatinib (L). This study demonstrated a similar pCR rate with TCH and TCHL and a lower rate of pCR with TCL. Treatment-related toxicity limited the ability for participants to receive protocol-specified chemotherapy and HER2-targeted therapy in the TCHL Arm.
Project description:Adjuvant docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab (TCH) is a standard regimen for HER2+ breast cancer. Dual HER2-blockade with lapatinib (L) and trastuzumab demonstrated significant activity in the metastatic and neoadjuvant settings. This study evaluates neoadjuvant TC plus trastuzumab (H) and/or lapatinib (L). This study demonstrated a similar pCR rate with TCH and TCHL and a lower rate of pCR with TCL. Treatment-related toxicity limited the ability for participants to receive protocol-specified chemotherapy and HER2-targeted therapy in the TCHL Arm.
Project description:Inhibition of the HER2/ERBB2 receptor is a keystone to treating HER2-positive malignancies, particularly breast cancer, but a significant fraction of HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancers recur or fail to respond. Anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies, like trastuzumab or pertuzumab, and ATP active site inhibitors like lapatinib, commonly lack durability because of adaptive changes in the tumor leading to resistance. HER2+ cell line responses to inhibition with lapatinib were analyzed by RNAseq and ChIPseq to characterize transcriptional and epigenetic changes. Motif analysis of lapatinib-responsive genomic regions implicated the pioneer transcription factor FOXA1 as a mediator of adaptive responses. Lapatinib in combination with FOXA1 depletion led to dysregulation of enhancers, impaired adaptive upregulation of HER3, and decreased proliferation. HER2-directed therapy using clinically relevant drugs (trastuzumab with or without lapatinib or pertuzumab) in a 7-day clinical trial designed to examine early pharmacodynamic response to antibody-based anti-HER2 therapy showed reduced FOXA1 expression was coincident with decreased HER2 and HER3 levels, decreased proliferation gene signatures, and increased immune gene signatures. This highlights the importance of the immune response to anti-HER2 antibodies and suggests that inhibiting FOXA1-mediated adaptive responses in combination with HER2 targeting is a potential therapeutic strategy.