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Palbociclib and Letrozole or Fulvestrant in Treating Patients With Estrogen Receptor Positive, HER2 Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

A Phase II Trial Assessing the Tolerability of Palbociclib in Combination With Letrozole or Fulvestrant in Patients Aged 70 and Older With Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03633331
Enrollment
93
Registered
2018-08-16
Start date
2018-08-15
Completion date
2026-02-27
Last updated
2026-04-29

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

Conditions

Estrogen Receptor-positive Breast Cancer, HER2/Neu Negative, Stage IV Breast Cancer AJCC v6 and v7

Brief summary

This phase II trial studies the side effects and how well palbociclib and letrozole or fulvestrant works in treating patients aged 70 years and older with estrogen receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body. Palbociclib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as letrozole or fulvestrant, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving palbociclib and letrozole or fulvestrant may work better in treating patients with breast cancer. The trial will explore factors other than chronologic age that can affect toxicity rates as identified using a cancer-specific geriatric assessment.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To estimate the safety and tolerability (adverse event rate) of the combination of palbociclib and letrozole or fulvestrant in adults age 70 or older with estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To describe the full toxicity profile including all grade 2 and higher adverse events (per National Cancer Institute \[NCI\] Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] version \[v.\] 5.0), specifically estimating the rate of grade 2 and higher myelosuppression (neutropenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia), neutropenic fever, gastrointestinal (GI) side effects (nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, mucositis-oral), fatigue, neuropathy, and thromboembolism. II. To describe rates of dose reductions, dose holds, and hospitalizations. III. To estimate median time to treatment failure, including progression free survival and overall survival. IV. To estimate the rate of adherence to palbociclib, letrozole and fulvestrant. V. To explore factors other than chronologic age that can affect toxicity rates as identified using a cancer-specific geriatric assessment. VI. To describe the results of the Overall Treatment Utility (OTU). VII. To determine the degree of agreement between patient-reported adverse events (AEs) using Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO)-CTCAE measures and those reported using traditional collections for AEs. VIII. To examine the association between sarcopenia and the development of toxicity and adverse events. OUTLINE: Patients receive palbociclib orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-21. Patients also receive letrozole PO QD on days 1-28 or fulvestrant intramuscularly (IM) on days 1 and 15 of course 1 and on day 1 of subsequent courses per Doctor of Medicine (MD) discretion. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for up to 5 years.

Interventions

DRUGPalbociclib

Given PO

DRUGLetrozole

Given PO

DRUGFulvestrant

Given IM

OTHERQuestionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

OTHERQuality-of-Life Assessment

Ancillary studies

Sponsors

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
70 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Documentation of disease: estrogen receptor positive and/or progesterone receptor (PR) positive, HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer; histologic confirmation is required * Measurable disease or non-measurable disease * Planning to begin palbociclib for metastatic disease; one prior line of endocrine therapy and/or chemotherapy for metastatic disease is allowed; patients may begin or have already begun endocrine therapy before they start palbociclib treatment, but no more than two weeks prior to registration * No prior therapy with a CDK inhibitor * Resolution of all acute toxic effects of prior therapy or surgical procedures to CTCAE grade =\< 1 (except alopecia) or to baseline toxicities prior to previous therapy or surgical procedures, prior to registration * No untreated brain metastases; patients with treated brain metastases must have completed treatment with steroids to be eligible * No known interstitial lung disease * No second malignancies other than non-melanoma skin cancers or cervical carcinoma in situ; however, patients are not considered to have a "currently active" malignancy if they have completed therapy and are free of disease for \>= 3 years * No active infection requiring treatment with antibiotics * Patients must be able to swallow and retain oral medication * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0, 1 or 2 * Patients must be able to read and comprehend English or Spanish * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1500/mm\^3 (1.5 x 10\^9/L) * Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3 (100 x 10\^9/L) * Creatinine clearance \>= 30 ml/min calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula * Total serum bilirubin =\< 1.5 upper limit of normal (ULN) (\< 3 ULN if Gilbert's disease) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and/or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =\< 3 x ULN (=\< 5.0 x ULN if liver metastases present) * Alkaline phosphatase =\< 2.5 x ULN (=\< 5 x ULN if bone or liver metastases present)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of Adverse Events6 monthsDefined as the proportion of patients with documentation of grade 3 - 5 toxicity (regardless of attribution using the National Cancer Institute \[NCI\] Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] version \[v.\] 5.0 criteria). A 95% binomial confidence interval for single proportions will be constructed for the severe toxicity rate during treatment. Univariate relationships between the primary endpoint and various pre-treatment patient characteristics such as anemia, self-assessed functional status, or social support will be described via cross-tabulation and Fisher's exact testing. Exploratory logistic regression modeling, with limited generalizability due to the modest sample size, will be used to assess the relative contributions of these variables impact the likelihood of developing a severe toxicity during treatment. The strength of this association will be expressed in terms of an odds ratio and its associated 95% confidence interval.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Commonality of Grade 3+ Drug Toxicities1 yearMeasured by National Cancer Institute \[NCI\] Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] v. 5.0. Reported in this section is the percentage of patients that experienced a grade 3 or higher toxicity.
Dose Reduction, Dose Hold, and Hospitalization ReasonsUp to 1 yearDosing interruption and/or dose reductions are recommended based on individual safety and tolerability. Palbociclib cycle length will remain 28 days (± 2 days) (despite a delay in initiating a new cycle of palbociclib); endocrine therapy may continue to be administered per the preplanned schedule. * Dose holds/reductions of letrozole or fulvestrant will occur per the package insert and the treating investigator's discretion. * Dose escalation will not be permitted in this study. * Palbociclib doses missed for toxicity will not be made up. * The initiation of a new cycle may be delayed for up to 7 days
Time to Treatment Failure (and Reason for Coming Off Study - Toxicity, Patient Preference, Progression)Up to 5 yearsDistributions time to treatment failure will be estimated using Kaplan-Meier methodology. Treatment failure is defined as a severe adverse event, disease progression or patient refusal to continue assigned treatment. Any reason that treatment is discontinued to time to treatment failure and not censor patients will be included. The reason for treatment discontinuation will be captured.
Palbociclib Adherence RateUp to 12 weeksPatients to be included in the analysis cohort will be those patients who have taken one or more doses of the study treatment. Those patients will be considered adherent to study treatment. For each of the first 3 cycles, an estimate of the proportion of patients who meet the criteria for adherence and its corresponding 95% confidence interval will be determined.
Response Rate as Determined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST)Up to 1 yearThe response rate is defined as the proportion of patients whose disease status met Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria for complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) on 2 consecutive evaluations at least 8 weeks apart. A 95% binomial confidence interval for the response rate will be constructed.
Progression Free Survival (PFS)up to 5 yearsDistributions of progression free survival (PFS) times will be estimated using Kaplan-Meier methodology. The PFS time is calculated as the time between a patients start of treatment and their disease progression or death.
Overall Survival (OS)Up to 5 yearsDistributions of overall survival (OS) times will be estimated using Kaplan-Meier methodology. OS time is calculated as the time between the date a patient started treatment and their death.
Overall Treatment Utility (OTU) ResultsUp to 1 yearOTU is a novel composite endpoint developed by investigators of the FOCUS2 trial to assess the outcome of palliative chemotherapy. The patient will be given either an overall score of "good", "intermediate", or "poor". A 95% binomial confidence interval will be constructed for the percentage of patients that scored "good" on the OTU.
Sarcopenia AnalysisUp to 1 yearWill examine variables associated with skeletal muscle loss during treatment and whether skeletal muscle loss during treatment is associated with the presence of grade 3-5 toxicity and adverse events. Sarcopenia will be treated as a binary variable using the Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) (SMI \< 41 cm\^2/m\^2 vs. SMI \> 41 cm\^2/m\^2) and differences in grades chemotherapy toxicity and adverse events will be analyzed using two group t-tests and fisher's exact test. The number of patients with and without sarcopenia grouped by patients with or without grade 3+ Adverse Events (AE's) will be also be reported.
Quality of Life as Measured by the European Quality of Life Five Dimension Three Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L)Up to 1 yearEuropean Quality of Life Five Dimension Three Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) is comprised of 5 dimensions. Mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 3 levels, no problems, some problems, extreme problems. The EQ-5D-3L can be converted to a single summary index, 0-1, where higher scores mean better health. The median and range of this total score will be reported.

Countries

United States

Contacts

STUDY_CHAIRMina Sedrak, MD, MS

City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Treatment (Palbociclib, Letrozole or Fulvestrant)
Patients receive palbociclib PO QD on days 1-21. Patients also receive letrozole PO QD on days 1-28 or fulvestrant IM on days 1 and 15 of course 1 and on day 1 of subsequent courses per MD discretion. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Palbociclib: Given PO Letrozole: Given PO Fulvestrant: Given IM Questionnaire Administration: Ancillary studies\> \> Quality-of-Life Assessment: Ancillary studies
93
Total93

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicTreatment (Palbociclib, Letrozole or Fulvestrant)
Age, Continuous74 years
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
3 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
88 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
85 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
92 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
1 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
4 / 92
other
Total, other adverse events
92 / 92
serious
Total, serious adverse events
35 / 92

Outcome results

Primary

Incidence of Adverse Events

Defined as the proportion of patients with documentation of grade 3 - 5 toxicity (regardless of attribution using the National Cancer Institute \[NCI\] Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] version \[v.\] 5.0 criteria). A 95% binomial confidence interval for single proportions will be constructed for the severe toxicity rate during treatment. Univariate relationships between the primary endpoint and various pre-treatment patient characteristics such as anemia, self-assessed functional status, or social support will be described via cross-tabulation and Fisher's exact testing. Exploratory logistic regression modeling, with limited generalizability due to the modest sample size, will be used to assess the relative contributions of these variables impact the likelihood of developing a severe toxicity during treatment. The strength of this association will be expressed in terms of an odds ratio and its associated 95% confidence interval.

Time frame: 6 months

Population: patients meeting the eligibility criteria who have not withdrawn before treatment and have adverse event data available are considered evaluable for the primary endpoint.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Treatment (Palbociclib, Letrozole or Fulvestrant)Incidence of Adverse Events0.756 proportion of patients
Secondary

Dose Reduction, Dose Hold, and Hospitalization Reasons

A 95% binomial confidence interval for single proportions will be constructed for the percentage of patients that had at least one dose reduction, dose hold, or hospitalization within the first year of treatment.

Time frame: Up to 1 year

Secondary

Incidence of Drug Toxicities - Measured by National Cancer Institute [NCI] Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] v. 5.0

Measured by National Cancer Institute \[NCI\] Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] v. 5.0

Time frame: Up to 1 year

Secondary

Overall Survival (OS)

Distributions of overall survival (OS) times will be estimated using Kaplan-Meier methodology.

Time frame: Up to 5 years

Secondary

Overall Treatment Utility (OTU) Results

OTU is a novel composite endpoint developed by investigators of the FOCUS2 trial to assess the outcome of palliative chemotherapy. The patient will be given either an overall score of good, intermediate, or poor. A 95% binomial confidence interval will be constructed for the percentage of patients that scored good on the OTU.

Time frame: Up to 1 year

Secondary

Palbociclib Adherence Rate

Patients to be included in the analysis cohort will be those patients who have taken one or more doses of the study treatment. Those patients will be considered adherent to study treatment. For each of the first 3 cycles, an estimate of the proportion of patients who meet the criteria for adherence and its corresponding 95% confidence interval will be determined.

Time frame: Up to 12 weeks

Secondary

Progression Free Survival (PFS)

Distributions of progression free survival (PFS) times will be estimated using Kaplan-Meier methodology.

Time frame: From start of treatment to the first of the following disease events: local/regional/distant recurrence, invasive contralateral breast disease, second primary or death due to any cause, assessed up to 5 years

Secondary

Quality of Life as Measured by the European Quality of Life Five Dimension Three Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L)

European Quality of Life Five Dimension Three Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) is comprised of 5 dimensions. Mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 3 levels, no problems, some problems, extreme problems. The EQ-5D-3L can be converted to a single summary index. The median and range of this total score will be reported.

Time frame: Up to 1 year

Secondary

Response Rate as Determined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST)

The response rate is defined as the proportion of patients whose disease status met Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria for complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) on 2 consecutive evaluations at least 8 weeks apart. A 95% binomial confidence interval for the response rate will be constructed.

Time frame: Up to 1 year

Secondary

Sarcopenia Analysis

Will examine variables associated with skeletal muscle loss during treatment and whether skeletal muscle loss during treatment is associated with the presence of grade 3-5 toxicity and adverse events. Sarcopenia will be treated as a binary variable using the Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) (SMI \< 41 cm\^2/m\^2 vs. SMI \> 41 cm\^2/m\^2) and differences in grades chemotherapy toxicity and adverse events will be analyzed using two group t-tests and fisher's exact test. The number of patients with and without sarcopenia grouped by patients with or without grade 3+ Adverse Events (AE's) will be also be reported.

Time frame: Up to 1 year

Secondary

Time to Treatment Failure (and Reason for Coming Off Study - Toxicity, Patient Preference, Progression)

Distributions time to treatment failure will be estimated using Kaplan-Meier methodology. Treatment failure is defined as a severe adverse event, disease progression or patient refusal to continue assigned treatment. Any reason that treatment is discontinued to time to treatment failure and not censor patients will be included. The reason for treatment discontinuation will be captured.

Time frame: Up to 5 years

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 30, 2026