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Cisplatin vs Paclitaxel for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

A Randomized Phase II Study of Preoperative Cisplatin Versus Paclitaxel in Patients With Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Evaluating the Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) Biomarker

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01982448
Enrollment
147
Registered
2013-11-13
Start date
2014-04-30
Completion date
2020-08-31
Last updated
2025-09-26

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

Conditions

Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Keywords

TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER, CISPLATIN, PACLITAXEL

Brief summary

This is a phase II study randomizing patients with stage I with T1 \> 1.5 cm, stage II or III triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) to preoperative cisplatin versus paclitaxel. The study is designed to evaluate the ability of the Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) assay to predict pathologic response to preoperative chemotherapy.

Detailed description

Cisplatin and paclitaxel are active in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Despite different mechanisms of action, effective predictive biomarkers to preferentially inform drug selection have not been identified. The homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.) detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair and may identify patients with BRCA1/2-proficient tumors that are sensitive to DNA-targeting therapy. The primary objective of TBCRC 030 was to detect an association of HRD with pathologic response (residual cancer burden (RCB)-0/1) to singleagent cisplatin or paclitaxel. This prospective phase II study enrolled patients with germline BRCA1/2 wild-type/unknown stage I-III TNBC in a 12-week randomized study of preoperative cisplatin or paclitaxel. The HRD assay was carried out on baseline tissue; positive HRD was defined as a score \>=33. Crossover to an alternative chemotherapy was offered if there was inadequate response.

Interventions

DRUGCisplatin
DRUGPaclitaxel

Sponsors

Myriad Genetics, Inc.
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium
CollaboratorOTHER
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Participants must meet the following criteria on screening examination to be eligible to participate in the study 2. Pathologic documentation of invasive breast cancer by biopsy (FNA alone is not adequate). 3. AJCC clinical stage I with T1 \> 1.5 cm, stage II or III invasive breast cancer. 4. Participants with multicentric or bilateral disease are eligible if at least one lesion meets stage eligibility criteria for the study and no tumor is HER2-positive. 5. Tumors must be HER2 negative defined as HER2 0 or 1+ by immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays and /or lack of gene amplification by FISH defined as a ratio \< 2 on invasive tumor by local review. 6. ER and PgR status by IHC must be known. Tumor must be ER and PR negative (≤5% staining) by local review. 7. Known BRCA1/2 (BReast CAncer) status is not required for study entry. However patients known to have a germline deleterious BRCA1/2 mutation should be encouraged to consider a preoperative trial specifically designed for BRCA1/2 carriers, if available. 8. Breast imaging should include imaging of the ipsilateral axilla. For subjects with a clinically positive axilla, a needle aspiration, core biopsy or SLN procedure will be performed to confirm the presence of metastatic disease in the lymph nodes. For patients with a clinically negative axilla, baseline assessment of the axilla will be performed at the discretion of the treating investigator. For patients with pathologically positive axillary lymph nodes prior to preoperative therapy, a level I and II lymph node dissection at the time of definitive surgery is recommended. 9. Patients with a prior history of contra-lateral breast cancer are eligible if they have no evidence of recurrence of their initial primary breast cancer within the last 5 years. 10. Women ≥ 18 years of age. 11. ECOG performance status ≤1 (see Appendix A). 12. Laboratory Evaluation 1) Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500 / mm3 2) Platelet count ≥ 100,000/ mm3 3) Bilirubin ≤ 1.5x upper limit of normal (ULN), for patients with Gilbert syndrome, direct bilirubin will be measured instead of total bilirubin 4) ALT, AST ≤3.0 x ULN ALK Phos \<2.5 x ULN 5) Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dl or creatinine clearance ≥ 60 cc/min 6) Hemoglobin ≥ 9 mg/dl 7) Use of an effective means of contraception is required in subjects of childbearing potential since study agents are known to be teratogenic. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. 8) Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document 9) Individuals with a history of other malignancies are eligible if they have been disease-free for at least 5 years and are deemed by the investigator to be at low risk for recurrence of that malignancy and did not receive prior chemotherapy. Individuals with the following cancers are eligible if diagnosed and treated within the past 5 years: cervical cancer in situ, and basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. 10) Patient must be willing to undergo mandatory research biopsy and blood draw. Prior to biopsy procedures patients must be able to be off medications that could increase the risk of bleeding

Exclusion criteria

1. Participants with axillary adenopathy only are not eligible for this study. 2. Prior chemotherapy: Prior non-taxane or platinum containing chemotherapy will be allowed if the prior exposure was at least 5 years ago and the exposure is thought not to potentially interact with the primary outcome of the trial or put the patient at undue risk, and should be reviewed with study PI on a case by case basis. 3. Any prior treatment for the current breast cancer, including chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation or experimental therapy. 4. Ipsilateral breast recurrence, unless prior treatment consisted of excision alone for DCIS or breast conserving treatment and hormonal therapy for DCIS or invasive breast cancer. 5. Ongoing use of any other investigational or study agents. 6. Peripheral neuropathy of any etiology \> grade 1 (NCI CTCAE Version 4.0- Appendix B) 7. Significant hearing loss that would prevent cisplatin administration. 8. Renal dysfunction for which exposure to cisplatin would be unsafe or require cisplatin dose modification (i.e., Cre \> 1.5 mg/dl or GFR \< 60 cc/min).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Pathologic Response by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusEvaluated after definitive breast surgery, up to 4-5 months from enrollment.Pathologic response was assessed using the MD Anderson residual cancer burden (RCB) method (Symmans et al. JCO 2007). Responders are defined as RCB 0/1 and non-responders as RCB 2/3. Participants who crossed over due inadequate clinical response after 12 weeks were counted as non-responders. HRD status was determined with baseline diagnostic tissue using the HRD assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.; required minimum 100 mm2 of tumor tissue) which detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair. The positive threshold for HRD was a score \>/= 33.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number With Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusEvaluated after definitive breast surgery, up to 4-5 months from enrollment.Pathologic response was assessed using the MD Anderson residual cancer burden (RCB) method (Symmans et al. JCO 2007). pCR is defined as RCB-0. HRD status was determined with baseline diagnostic tissue using the HRD assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.; required minimum 100 mm2 of tumor tissue) which detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair. The positive threshold for HRD was a score \>/= 33.
Number of Pathologic ResponseEvaluated after definitive breast surgery, up to 4-5 months from enrollment.Pathologic response was assessed using the MD Anderson residual cancer burden (RCB) method (Symmans et al. JCO 2007). Responders are defined as RCB 0/1 and non-responders as RCB 2/3. Participants who crossed over due inadequate clinical response after 12 weeks were counted as non-responders. HRD status was determined with baseline diagnostic tissue using the HRD assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.; required minimum 100 mm2 of tumor tissue) which detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair. The positive threshold for HRD was a score \>/= 33.
Number With Pathologic ResponseEvaluated after definitive breast surgery, up to 4-5 months from enrollment.Pathologic response was assessed using the MD Anderson residual cancer burden (RCB) method (Symmans et al. JCO 2007). Responders are defined as RCB 0/1 and non-responders as RCB 2/3. Participants who crossed over due inadequate clinical response after 12 weeks were counted as non-responders. HRD status was determined with baseline diagnostic tissue using the HRD assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.; required minimum 100 mm2 of tumor tissue) which detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair. The positive threshold for HRD was a score \>/= 33.
Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of HRD ScoreEvaluated after definitive breast surgery, up to 4-5 months from enrollment.Pathologic response was assessed using the MD Anderson residual cancer burden (RCB) method (Symmans et al. JCO 2007). Responders are defined as RCB 0/1 and non-responders as RCB 2/3. Participants who crossed over due inadequate clinical response after 12 weeks were counted as non-responders. HRD status was determined with baseline diagnostic tissue using the HRD assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.; required minimum 100 mm2 of tumor tissue) which detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair. The positive threshold for HRD was a score \>/= 33. PPV was calculated as the probability of pathological response among the HRD positive group.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

From April 2014 through January 2018

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Arm A: Cisplatin
Cisplatin given by IV infusion at a dose of 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks (1 cycle) for 4 cycles as preoperative chemotherapy. Participants with inadequate clinical response after 12 weeks (as judged either clinically or radiologically by a provider) were able to crossover to an alternative provider-selected preoperative chemotherapy regimen. Definitive breast surgery following no later than 42 days after administration of last chemotherapy.
75
Arm B: Paclitaxel
Paclitaxel given by IV infusion at a dose of 80 mg/m2 weekly for 12 weeks (4 cycles) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Participants with inadequate clinical response after 12 weeks (as judged either clinically or radiologically by a provider) were able to 'crossover' to an alternative provider-selected preoperative chemotherapy regimen. Definitive breast surgery following no later than 42 days after administration of last chemotherapy.
72
Total147

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Preoperative ChemotherapyHypersensitivity during cycle 1 so therapy stopped02
Preoperative ChemotherapyIneligible Prior to Starting Therapy10
Preoperative ChemotherapyLost to Follow-up01
Preoperative ChemotherapyWithdrawal by Subject22

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicArm A: CisplatinTotalArm B: Paclitaxel
Age, Continuous51 years53 years53.5 years
BRCA1/2 Status
Germline and/or somatic mutation
6 Participants7 Participants1 Participants
BRCA1/2 Status
Germline/somatic intact
69 Participants140 Participants71 Participants
Clinical lymph node status
Negative
46 Participants92 Participants46 Participants
Clinical lymph node status
Positive
29 Participants55 Participants26 Participants
Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) Status
HRD High (+) Status
39 Participants74 Participants35 Participants
Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) Status
HRD Low (-) Status
17 Participants30 Participants13 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
7 Participants11 Participants4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants2 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
8 Participants19 Participants11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants4 Participants4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
60 Participants111 Participants51 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
75 Participants147 Participants72 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
75 Participants147 Participants72 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
0 / 720 / 67
other
Total, other adverse events
72 / 7267 / 67
serious
Total, serious adverse events
11 / 7219 / 67

Outcome results

Primary

Number of Participants With Pathologic Response by HR-deficiency (HRD) Status

Pathologic response was assessed using the MD Anderson residual cancer burden (RCB) method (Symmans et al. JCO 2007). Responders are defined as RCB 0/1 and non-responders as RCB 2/3. Participants who crossed over due inadequate clinical response after 12 weeks were counted as non-responders. HRD status was determined with baseline diagnostic tissue using the HRD assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.; required minimum 100 mm2 of tumor tissue) which detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair. The positive threshold for HRD was a score \>/= 33.

Time frame: Evaluated after definitive breast surgery, up to 4-5 months from enrollment.

Population: The analysis population is comprised of all participants with evaluable tissue for HRD analysis and who completed definitive breast surgery.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD+Number of Participants With Pathologic Response by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusResponder (RCB-0/1)9 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD+Number of Participants With Pathologic Response by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusNon-Responder (RCB-2/3 or crossover)30 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD-Number of Participants With Pathologic Response by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusNon-Responder (RCB-2/3 or crossover)15 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD-Number of Participants With Pathologic Response by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusResponder (RCB-0/1)2 Participants
Arm B: Paclitaxel With HRD+Number of Participants With Pathologic Response by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusResponder (RCB-0/1)10 Participants
Arm B: Paclitaxel With HRD+Number of Participants With Pathologic Response by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusNon-Responder (RCB-2/3 or crossover)25 Participants
Arm B: Paclitaxel With HRD-Number of Participants With Pathologic Response by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusResponder (RCB-0/1)4 Participants
Arm B: Paclitaxel With HRD-Number of Participants With Pathologic Response by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusNon-Responder (RCB-2/3 or crossover)9 Participants
Comparison: In the Cisplatin treated patients, the relationship between HRD status and pathologic response was conducted by arm using a univariate logistic regression model and a likelihood ratio test with a one-sided type I error of alpha 0.05. Assuming 12.5% unevaluable, prevalence of HR deficiency 60%, 70 evaluable patients per in a given arm, there is \~80% power to detect a response rate of 52% in HR-deficient patients vs a 16% in HR non-deficient patients, corresponding to the Odds Ratio 5.7.95% CI: [0.39, 23.68]
Comparison: In the Paclitaxel treated patients, the relationship between HRD status and pathologic response was conducted by arm using a univariate logistic regression model and a likelihood ratio test with a one-sided type I error of alpha 0.05. Assuming 12.5% unevaluable, prevalence of HR deficiency 60%, 70 evaluable patients per in a given arm, there is \~80% power to detect a response rate of 37% in HR-deficient patients vs a 16% in HR non-deficient patients, corresponding to the Odds Ratio 0.62.95% CI: [0.19, 4.95]
Secondary

Number of Pathologic Response

Pathologic response was assessed using the MD Anderson residual cancer burden (RCB) method (Symmans et al. JCO 2007). Responders are defined as RCB 0/1 and non-responders as RCB 2/3. Participants who crossed over due inadequate clinical response after 12 weeks were counted as non-responders. HRD status was determined with baseline diagnostic tissue using the HRD assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.; required minimum 100 mm2 of tumor tissue) which detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair. The positive threshold for HRD was a score \>/= 33.

Time frame: Evaluated after definitive breast surgery, up to 4-5 months from enrollment.

ArmMeasureCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD+Number of Pathologic ResponseResponder (RCB-0/1)19 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD+Number of Pathologic ResponseNon-responder (RCB-2/3 or crossover)53 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD-Number of Pathologic ResponseResponder (RCB-0/1)15 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD-Number of Pathologic ResponseNon-responder (RCB-2/3 or crossover)52 Participants
Secondary

Number With Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) by HR-deficiency (HRD) Status

Pathologic response was assessed using the MD Anderson residual cancer burden (RCB) method (Symmans et al. JCO 2007). pCR is defined as RCB-0. HRD status was determined with baseline diagnostic tissue using the HRD assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.; required minimum 100 mm2 of tumor tissue) which detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair. The positive threshold for HRD was a score \>/= 33.

Time frame: Evaluated after definitive breast surgery, up to 4-5 months from enrollment.

Population: The analysis population is comprised of all participants with evaluable tissue for HRD analysis and who completed definitive breast surgery.

ArmMeasureCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD+Number With Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatuspCR5 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD+Number With Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusNo pCR34 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD-Number With Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusNo pCR16 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD-Number With Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatuspCR1 Participants
Arm B: Paclitaxel With HRD+Number With Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatuspCR5 Participants
Arm B: Paclitaxel With HRD+Number With Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusNo pCR30 Participants
Arm B: Paclitaxel With HRD-Number With Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatuspCR3 Participants
Arm B: Paclitaxel With HRD-Number With Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) by HR-deficiency (HRD) StatusNo pCR10 Participants
95% CI: [0.23, 118.07]
95% CI: [0.09, 4.14]
Secondary

Number With Pathologic Response

Pathologic response was assessed using the MD Anderson residual cancer burden (RCB) method (Symmans et al. JCO 2007). Responders are defined as RCB 0/1 and non-responders as RCB 2/3. Participants who crossed over due inadequate clinical response after 12 weeks were counted as non-responders. HRD status was determined with baseline diagnostic tissue using the HRD assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.; required minimum 100 mm2 of tumor tissue) which detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair. The positive threshold for HRD was a score \>/= 33.

Time frame: Evaluated after definitive breast surgery, up to 4-5 months from enrollment.

ArmMeasureCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD+Number With Pathologic ResponsepCR11 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD+Number With Pathologic ResponseNon-pCR61 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD-Number With Pathologic ResponsepCR8 Participants
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD-Number With Pathologic ResponseNon-pCR59 Participants
Secondary

Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of HRD Score

Pathologic response was assessed using the MD Anderson residual cancer burden (RCB) method (Symmans et al. JCO 2007). Responders are defined as RCB 0/1 and non-responders as RCB 2/3. Participants who crossed over due inadequate clinical response after 12 weeks were counted as non-responders. HRD status was determined with baseline diagnostic tissue using the HRD assay (Myriad Genetics, Inc.; required minimum 100 mm2 of tumor tissue) which detects impaired double-strand DNA break repair. The positive threshold for HRD was a score \>/= 33. PPV was calculated as the probability of pathological response among the HRD positive group.

Time frame: Evaluated after definitive breast surgery, up to 4-5 months from enrollment.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD+Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of HRD Score.231 probability
Arm A: Cisplatin With HRD-Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of HRD Score.286 probability

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 5, 2026