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A Global Study to Compare the Effects of Fulvestrant and Arimidex in a Subset of Patients With Breast Cancer.

A Randomised, Double-blind, Parallel-group, Multicentre, Phase III Study to Compare the Efficacy and Tolerability of Fulvestrant (FASLODEX) 500 mg With Anastrozole (ARIMIDEX) 1 mg as Hormonal Treatment for Postmenopausal Women With Hormone Receptor-Positive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer Who Have Not Previously Been Treated With Any Hormonal Therapy.

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01602380
Acronym
FALCON
Enrollment
462
Registered
2012-05-21
Start date
2012-10-17
Completion date
2026-01-16
Last updated
2026-02-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer

Keywords

hormone receptor positive breast cancer, endocrine, no hormone therapy, hormone, breast, cancer, neoplasm, metastatic, tumour

Brief summary

The purpose of the study is to compare how treatment with Fulvestrant (FASLODEX) or Anastrozole (ARIMIDEX) effects disease progression for women with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have not had prior hormonal treatment.

Detailed description

A Randomised, Double-blind, Parallel-group, Multicentre, Phase III Study to Compare the Efficacy and Tolerability of Fulvestrant (FASLODEX) 500 mg with Anastrozole (ARIMIDEX) 1 mg as Hormonal Treatment for Postmenopausal Women with Hormone Receptor-Positive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer Who Have Not Previously Been Treated With Any Hormonal Therapy.

Interventions

DRUGfaslodex dummy

2 x intramuscular injections at day 1, 14, 28 and every 28 days thereafter

DRUGarimidex dummy

oral tablet 1 daily

DRUGfaslodex 500mg

2 x intramuscular injections at day 1, 14, 28 and every 28 days thereafter

DRUGarimidex 1mg

oral tablet 1 daily

Sponsors

AstraZeneca
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 130 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Histological confirmation of breast cancer in post menopausal women (age \>=60). Positive hormone receptor status (ER +ve and/or PgR +ve) of primary or metastatic tumour tissue based on local laboratory assessment. * EITHER locally advanced disease (1 line of chemotherapy allowed only if remain unsuitable for therapy of curative intent) OR Metastatic disease. (1 line of chemotherapy for breast cancer allowed only if subsequent evidence of further progressive disease) * At least 1 lesion (measurable and/or non-measurable) that can be accurately assessed at baseline and is suitable for repeated assessment. * Postmenopausal women, fulfilling 1 of: * Prior bilateral oophorectomy * Age \>60 years * Age \< 60 years and amenorrheic for 12+months in the absence of chemotherapy, tamoxifen, toremifene, or ovarian suppression and FSH and oestradiol in the postmenopausal range

Exclusion criteria

* Presence of life-threatening metastatic disease * Any of: * Extensive hepatic involvement * involving brain or meninges * symptomatic pulmonary lymph spread * Discrete lung metastases are acceptable if respiratory function is not significantly compromised * Prior systemic therapy for breast cancer other than one line of cytotoxic chemotherapy (the last dose of chemotherapy must have been received more than 28 days prior to randomisation) * Radiation therapy if not completed within 28 days prior to randomisation (with the exception of radiotherapy given for control of bone pain, started prior to randomisation). Prior hormonal treatment for breast cancer. * Current or prior malignancy within previous 3 years (other than breast cancer or adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma of the cervix).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Comparison of Progression-Free Survival (PFS) in Patients Treated With Fulvestrant With Those Treated With AnastrozoleBaseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until the earliest of disease progression evident, patient dies or has surgery/radiotherapy for their disease (up to approximately 38 months)PFS was defined as the time from randomisation until objective disease progression according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), surgery or radiotherapy to manage worsening of disease or death by any cause (in the absence of progression). Outcome measure is reported as median time from randomisation to PFS, calculated using the Kaplan-Meier technique.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Comparison of Overall Survival (OS) in Patients Treated With Fulvestrant With Those Treated With Anastrozole; Percentage of Patients With EventsBaseline (Day 0) up to data cut-off for final analysis (up to approximately 116 months). Following disease progression, patients were to be contacted at 12 weekly intervals to determine survival statusOS was defined as the time from randomisation until death by any cause. The current OS data correspond to that of the final analysis and the outcome measure is reported as percentage of patients with events.
Objective Response Rate (ORR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole TreatmentBaseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)ORR was defined as the percentage patients with an objective response (i.e. those recording a partial response \[PR\] or complete response \[CR\]) at some point during the study, prior to disease progression. ORR was assessed in patients with measurable disease at baseline only. The determination of measurable disease at baseline was done using baseline RECIST data. CR was disappearance of all target lesions since baseline; was any pathological lymph nodes selected as target lesions (TL) to have a reduction in short axis to \<10 millimeter. PR was at least a 30% decrease in the sum of the diameters of TL, taking as reference the baseline sum of diameters.
Duration of Response (DoR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole TreatmentBaseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)DoR was defined only for patients who had an objective response, as the time in days from date of first documentation of response (CR/PR) until date of disease progression. CR was disappearance of all target lesions since baseline; any pathological lymph nodes selected as TL to have a reduction in short axis to \<10 mm. At least a 30% decrease in the sum of the diameters of TL, taking as reference the baseline sum of diameters.
Expected Duration of Response (EDoR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole TreatmentBaseline RECIST 1.1 assessments and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)EDoR was estimated using the formula EDoR = p Efp(x), where x = DoR, p = proportion of responders, and Efp(x) = mean duration of response for responders. The estimation was completed by using the maximum likelihood estimates of p and Efp(x), as described by Ellis (Ellis S et al. Analysis of duration of response in oncology trials, Contemp Clin Trials 2008; 29:456-65).
Clinical Benefit Rate (CBR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole TreatmentBaseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)CBR was defined as the percentage of patients who had a clinical benefit (i.e. best objective response of CR, PR or stable disease), that was maintained for at least 24 weeks, prior to any evidence of progression. Note that a minimum duration of 22 weeks for CBR was applicable in the analysis (rather than 24 weeks) to allow for the protocolled window of +/-2 weeks.
Duration of Clinical Benefit (DoCB) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole TreatmentBaseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)DoCB was defined only for patients who had clinical benefit, as the time in days from date of randomisation until the date of disease progression.
Expected Duration of Clinical Benefit (EDoCB) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole TreatmentBaseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)EDoCB was estimated using the formula EDoCB = p Efp(x), where x = EDoCB, p = proportion of responders, and Efp(x) = mean duration of response for responders. The estimation was completed by using the maximum likelihood estimates of p and Efp(x), as described by Ellis (Ellis S et al. Analysis of duration of response in oncology trials, Contemp Clin Trials 2008; 29:456-65).
Comparison of the Effect of Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment on Time to Deterioration of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL)Quality of life questionnaires administered at 3 months post objective disease progression, then at 6-monthly intervals (approximately 75 months)The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Breast (FACT-B) questionnaire was the instrument selected to assess HRQoL and comprised of following subscales: physical well-being (PWB), functional well-being (FWB), social well-being, emotional well-being, and breast cancer subscale (BCS). The main outcome measure from the FACT-B questionnaire was the Trial Outcome Index (TOI), which was a summary of the following subscales: PWB, FWB, and BCS. Outcome measure is reported as median time to deterioration, defined as the interval from the date of baseline of final analysis to the first assessment of worsened without an improvement in the next 12 weeks in FACT-B TOI, or the date of death (by any cause in the absence of symptom deterioration). Time to deterioration as measured by FACT-B total score was derived similarly and is also reported.

Countries

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey (Türkiye), Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Contacts

STUDY_DIRECTORShankar S, MD

AstraZeneca

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJohn Robertson, MD

Graduate Medicine and Health School, University of Nottingham, UK

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMatthew Ellis, DM

Washington University School of Medicine, USA

Participant flow

Recruitment details

First patient enrolled: 17 October 2012.

Pre-assignment details

524 patients were enrolled (signed informed consent). Patients were assigned to treatment if they met all inclusion and none of the exclusion criteria. 62 patients were not randomised, mainly due to eligibility criteria not being fulfilled (44/62 patients) or patient decision (13/62 patients). 462 patients were randomised to receive treatment.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Fulvestrant 500 mg
Patients received fulvestrant (Faslodex™) 500 mg, administered as two 5 mL intramuscular injections, 1 in each buttock, at each visit on Days 0, 14 (±3), 28 (±3) and every 28 (±3) days thereafter. In order to support the double-blind, double-dummy design of the trial, each patient randomised to receive fulvestrant, also received placebo to match the anastrozole schedule (tablets, once daily).
230
Anastrozole 1 mg
Patients received anastrozole (Arimidex™), administered orally as a single tablet at a dose of 1 mg/day from randomisation on Day 0 and once daily thereafter. In order to support the double-blind, double-dummy design of the trial, each patient randomised to receive anastrozole also received placebo to match the fulvestrant schedule (injections on Days 0, 14 \[±3\], 28 \[±3\] and every 28 \[±3\] days thereafter).
232
Total462

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicAnastrozole 1 mgTotalFulvestrant 500 mg
Age, Continuous63.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.38
63.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.12
63.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.86
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
American Indian or Alaska Native
5 Participants6 Participants1 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Asian
34 Participants70 Participants36 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Black or African American
4 Participants8 Participants4 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other
15 Participants29 Participants14 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
174 Participants349 Participants175 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
232 Participants462 Participants230 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
157 / 230159 / 232
other
Total, other adverse events
125 / 228127 / 232
serious
Total, serious adverse events
39 / 22836 / 232

Outcome results

Primary

Comparison of Progression-Free Survival (PFS) in Patients Treated With Fulvestrant With Those Treated With Anastrozole

PFS was defined as the time from randomisation until objective disease progression according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), surgery or radiotherapy to manage worsening of disease or death by any cause (in the absence of progression). Outcome measure is reported as median time from randomisation to PFS, calculated using the Kaplan-Meier technique.

Time frame: Baseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until the earliest of disease progression evident, patient dies or has surgery/radiotherapy for their disease (up to approximately 38 months)

Population: The ITT analysis set included all randomised patients.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Fulvestrant 500 mgComparison of Progression-Free Survival (PFS) in Patients Treated With Fulvestrant With Those Treated With Anastrozole16.6 Months
Anastrozole 1 mgComparison of Progression-Free Survival (PFS) in Patients Treated With Fulvestrant With Those Treated With Anastrozole13.8 Months
Comparison: If the true PFS HR for comparison of fulvestrant vs. anastrozole was 0.69 (likely to correspond to a 45% prolongation of PFS) the study had 90% power to demonstrate a statistically significant difference for PFS with a one-sided type 1 error of 2.5% (two-sided 5%).p-value: 0.048695% CI: [0.637, 0.999]Log Rank
Secondary

Clinical Benefit Rate (CBR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment

CBR was defined as the percentage of patients who had a clinical benefit (i.e. best objective response of CR, PR or stable disease), that was maintained for at least 24 weeks, prior to any evidence of progression. Note that a minimum duration of 22 weeks for CBR was applicable in the analysis (rather than 24 weeks) to allow for the protocolled window of +/-2 weeks.

Time frame: Baseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)

Population: The ITT analysis set included all randomised patients.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Fulvestrant 500 mgClinical Benefit Rate (CBR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment78.3 Percentage of participants
Anastrozole 1 mgClinical Benefit Rate (CBR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment74.1 Percentage of participants
p-value: 0.304595% CI: [0.815, 1.932]Regression, Logistic
Secondary

Comparison of Overall Survival (OS) in Patients Treated With Fulvestrant With Those Treated With Anastrozole; Percentage of Patients With Events

OS was defined as the time from randomisation until death by any cause. The current OS data correspond to that of the final analysis and the outcome measure is reported as percentage of patients with events.

Time frame: Baseline (Day 0) up to data cut-off for final analysis (up to approximately 116 months). Following disease progression, patients were to be contacted at 12 weekly intervals to determine survival status

Population: The ITT analysis set included all randomised patients. Date of death of 2 participants were unknown in the Anastrozole 1mg arm, hence they were censored for OS analysis.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Fulvestrant 500 mgComparison of Overall Survival (OS) in Patients Treated With Fulvestrant With Those Treated With Anastrozole; Percentage of Patients With Events68.3 Percentage of patients
Anastrozole 1 mgComparison of Overall Survival (OS) in Patients Treated With Fulvestrant With Those Treated With Anastrozole; Percentage of Patients With Events67.7 Percentage of patients
Comparison: 65% OS maturityp-value: 0.757995% CI: [0.773, 1.206]Log Rank
Secondary

Comparison of the Effect of Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment on Time to Deterioration of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL)

The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Breast (FACT-B) questionnaire was the instrument selected to assess HRQoL and comprised of following subscales: physical well-being (PWB), functional well-being (FWB), social well-being, emotional well-being, and breast cancer subscale (BCS). The main outcome measure from the FACT-B questionnaire was the Trial Outcome Index (TOI), which was a summary of the following subscales: PWB, FWB, and BCS. Outcome measure is reported as median time to deterioration, defined as the interval from the date of baseline of final analysis to the first assessment of worsened without an improvement in the next 12 weeks in FACT-B TOI, or the date of death (by any cause in the absence of symptom deterioration). Time to deterioration as measured by FACT-B total score was derived similarly and is also reported.

Time frame: Quality of life questionnaires administered at 3 months post objective disease progression, then at 6-monthly intervals (approximately 75 months)

Population: The ITT analysis set included all randomised patients.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEDIAN)
Fulvestrant 500 mgComparison of the Effect of Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment on Time to Deterioration of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL)Time to TOI deterioration14.1 months
Fulvestrant 500 mgComparison of the Effect of Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment on Time to Deterioration of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL)Time to FACT-B total score deterioration13.8 months
Anastrozole 1 mgComparison of the Effect of Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment on Time to Deterioration of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL)Time to TOI deterioration11.1 months
Anastrozole 1 mgComparison of the Effect of Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment on Time to Deterioration of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL)Time to FACT-B total score deterioration11.1 months
Comparison: Comparative statistical analysis for time to deterioration of TOI score is presented (fulvestrant versus anastrozole).p-value: 0.284695% CI: [0.7, 1.11]Log Rank
Comparison: Comparative statistical analysis for time to deterioration of FACT-B total score is presented (fulvestrant versus anastrozole).p-value: 0.084495% CI: [0.66, 1.03]Log Rank
Secondary

Duration of Clinical Benefit (DoCB) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment

DoCB was defined only for patients who had clinical benefit, as the time in days from date of randomisation until the date of disease progression.

Time frame: Baseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)

Population: Only patients in the ITT analysis set (which included all randomised patients) who also had a clinical benefit were included in the DoCB analysis (n=180 for Fulvestrant arm and n=172 for Anastrozole arm).

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Fulvestrant 500 mgDuration of Clinical Benefit (DoCB) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment22.1 Months
Anastrozole 1 mgDuration of Clinical Benefit (DoCB) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment19.1 Months
Secondary

Duration of Response (DoR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment

DoR was defined only for patients who had an objective response, as the time in days from date of first documentation of response (CR/PR) until date of disease progression. CR was disappearance of all target lesions since baseline; any pathological lymph nodes selected as TL to have a reduction in short axis to \<10 mm. At least a 30% decrease in the sum of the diameters of TL, taking as reference the baseline sum of diameters.

Time frame: Baseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)

Population: Only patients in the ITT analysis set (which included all randomised patients), who also had an objective response and had measurable disease at baseline were included in the DoR analysis (n=89 for Fulvestrant arm and n=88 for Anastrozole arm).

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Fulvestrant 500 mgDuration of Response (DoR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment20.0 Months
Anastrozole 1 mgDuration of Response (DoR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment13.2 Months
Secondary

Expected Duration of Clinical Benefit (EDoCB) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment

EDoCB was estimated using the formula EDoCB = p Efp(x), where x = EDoCB, p = proportion of responders, and Efp(x) = mean duration of response for responders. The estimation was completed by using the maximum likelihood estimates of p and Efp(x), as described by Ellis (Ellis S et al. Analysis of duration of response in oncology trials, Contemp Clin Trials 2008; 29:456-65).

Time frame: Baseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)

Population: The ITT analysis set included all randomised patients.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Fulvestrant 500 mgExpected Duration of Clinical Benefit (EDoCB) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment667.94 Days
Anastrozole 1 mgExpected Duration of Clinical Benefit (EDoCB) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment532.04 Days
p-value: 0.056195% CI: [0.99, 1.59]Method of Ellis et al
Secondary

Expected Duration of Response (EDoR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment

EDoR was estimated using the formula EDoR = p Efp(x), where x = DoR, p = proportion of responders, and Efp(x) = mean duration of response for responders. The estimation was completed by using the maximum likelihood estimates of p and Efp(x), as described by Ellis (Ellis S et al. Analysis of duration of response in oncology trials, Contemp Clin Trials 2008; 29:456-65).

Time frame: Baseline RECIST 1.1 assessments and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)

Population: EDoR analysis was based on the number of patients in the ITT analysis set (which included all randomised patients) who had measurable disease at baseline (n=193 for Fulvestrant arm and n=196 for Anastrozole arm).

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Fulvestrant 500 mgExpected Duration of Response (EDoR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment346.84 Days
Anastrozole 1 mgExpected Duration of Response (EDoR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment227.58 Days
p-value: 0.036795% CI: [1.03, 2.26]Method of Ellis et al
Secondary

Objective Response Rate (ORR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment

ORR was defined as the percentage patients with an objective response (i.e. those recording a partial response \[PR\] or complete response \[CR\]) at some point during the study, prior to disease progression. ORR was assessed in patients with measurable disease at baseline only. The determination of measurable disease at baseline was done using baseline RECIST data. CR was disappearance of all target lesions since baseline; was any pathological lymph nodes selected as target lesions (TL) to have a reduction in short axis to \<10 millimeter. PR was at least a 30% decrease in the sum of the diameters of TL, taking as reference the baseline sum of diameters.

Time frame: Baseline RECIST 1.1 assessments (Day 0) and then every 12 weeks until disease progression or treatment discontinuation (up to approximately 38 months)

Population: Percentages for ORR were calculated based on the number of patients in the ITT analysis set (which included all randomised patients) who had measurable disease at baseline (n=193 for Fulvestrant arm and n=196 for Anastrozole arm).

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Fulvestrant 500 mgObjective Response Rate (ORR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment46.1 Percentage of participants
Anastrozole 1 mgObjective Response Rate (ORR) for Fulvestrant Treatment Versus Anastrozole Treatment44.9 Percentage of participants
p-value: 0.72995% CI: [0.716, 1.614]Regression, Logistic

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 11, 2026