Purpose: The HER2 mAb, trastuzumab, is a standard therapy for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer before acquired resistance. Afatinib, an irreversible, oral, small-molecule ErbB family blocker, shows clinical activity in trastuzumab-refractory HER2-positive breast cancer.

Experimental Design: This phase I study used a 3+3 dose escalation to determine the MTD of oral once-daily afatinib in combination with the recommended dose of intravenous trastuzumab (4 mg/kg week 1; 2 mg/kg/wk thereafter). Adult women with confirmed advanced/metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer were eligible.

Results: Of 18 patients treated, 16 received daily afatinib 20 mg and two 30 mg. Overall, 4 of 13 and 2 of 2 patients receiving afatinib 20 mg and 30 mg, respectively, experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT; all CTCAE grade 3 diarrhea). Most frequent treatment-related adverse events were diarrhea (94%), rash (56%), and fatigue (56%). Overall, pharmacokinetic profiles of afatinib and trastuzumab in combination were consistent with the known characteristics of each alone. Overall, objective response and disease control rates were 11% and 39%, respectively, with median progression-free survival 111.0 days (95% confidence interval, 56.0–274.0).

Conclusions: The MTD of afatinib was 20 mg daily combined with the recommended weekly dose of trastuzumab, with 1 of 6 patients showing DLTs in the dose escalation. However, additional DLTs occurred in the dose-expansion phase meaning that this MTD cannot be recommended for phase II development without strict diarrhea management. There was no evidence suggesting relevant pharmacokinetic drug–drug interactions. Signs of clinical activity were seen in trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer, suggesting further investigation with optimal diarrhea management is warranted. Clin Cancer Res; 21(12); 2737–44. ©2014 AACR.

See related commentary by Sledge and Pegram, p. 2663

Translational Relevance

“Vertical” inhibition of HER2 by combining a HER2 mAb and a HER2-directed tyrosine kinase inhibitor is increasingly recognized as an effective treatment option for patients with advanced/metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. This dose-finding study provides the first data on the pharmacokinetics, safety, and preliminary efficacy of the combination of afatinib, an irreversible ErbB family blocker, and trastuzumab in patients with advanced/metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, almost all of whom had previously progressed on trastuzumab. Although pharmacokinetic data indicate drug–drug interactions to be unlikely and the combination pharmacologically feasible, dose escalation was limited by diarrhea at a 20 mg daily dose of afatinib with weekly trastuzumab. Optimum management of the adverse event of diarrhea with this combination of targeted therapies is essential. Early indications of antitumor activity with the combination merit further assessment of afatinib and trastuzumab with prompt and optimal management/prevention of diarrhea.

HER2 (ErbB2) is a member of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases, which also includes EGFR (ErbB1), ErbB3, and ErbB4. Amplification of HER2 leads to increased receptor homo- and heterodimerization, and subsequent activation of downstream signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and angiogenesis (1). HER2 is amplified and overexpressed in 15% to 20% of breast cancers (2). Trastuzumab, a HER2-targeting mAb, has become the mainstay of therapy in the palliative and adjuvant or neoadjuvant settings for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer since its first approval in 1998 (3). However, HER2-positive breast cancer may be intrinsically, or may become, resistant to trastuzumab in around 70% of cases (4). In these patients, further treatment options are limited (5). Several potential factors influencing resistance to trastuzumab have been proposed, including: compensatory crosstalk with other receptors (6, 7); a truncation known as p95-HER2, a splice variant missing exon 16 of the HER2 receptor (7); mutations in or increased activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway (7, 8); PTEN deficiency (8); the upregulation of Rac1 (9); and overexpression of mucin-4 (MUC4) or MUC1 (10).

Afatinib is an anilinoquinazoline-derived, irreversible, oral, small-molecule ErbB family blocker that inhibits EGFR, HER2 and ErbB4, and ErbB3 transphosphorylation. Afatinib is currently approved in several countries in Asia, the United States, the European Union, and elsewhere for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer with EGFR tyrosine kinase mutations; specific indications vary between countries. Afatinib's potential to block irreversibly all cancer-relevant ErbB family receptor homo- and heterodimers makes it a candidate for mediating sensitivity in trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer. Indeed, afatinib has demonstrated clinical activity in advanced solid tumors and trastuzumab-refractory HER2-positive breast cancer (11, 12). A phase II study of afatinib conducted in patients with heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer that had progressed on trastuzumab reported that 46% of patients achieved clinical benefit, which was associated with a median PFS of 15.1 weeks (11). However, on the basis of the results of trials such as EGF104900, “vertical” HER2 blockade, via a mAb combined with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), is increasingly recognized as generally more effective than HER2-directed monotherapy for the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (13–15). However, no preclinical data on afatinib plus trastuzumab are available. This phase I study was undertaken to determine the MTD (primary endpoint), safety, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of afatinib given in combination with trastuzumab to patients with a confirmed diagnosis of advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.

Patient population

Women 18 years old or over with advanced or metastatic breast cancer–overexpressing HER2 (immunohistochemistry 3+ or 2+ with positive gene amplification by FISH) were eligible to participate. Prior treatment with trastuzumab or lapatinib (in the adjuvant or metastatic settings) was permitted but not required. Other eligibility criteria included: measurable disease, life expectancy of at least 3 months, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0, 1, or 2, and adequate organ function. Patients were excluded from participation if they had received radiotherapy within 2 weeks of enrollment or chemo-, hormone-, or immunotherapy within 4 weeks of first drug administration, were currently receiving EGFR-targeting therapy or HER2-inhibiting drugs, or if they had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50%, known interstitial lung disease or active brain metastases.

Study design and treatment

This was a multicenter, open-label, phase I, dose-escalation study, conducted at five specialist cancer centers in the United Kingdom. Patients received oral afatinib once daily in combination with the recommended weekly intravenous dose of trastuzumab for breast cancer [starting at 4 mg/kg (week 1) followed by repeated doses of 2 mg/kg] in 28-day treatment cycles. Each patient was initially treated for one treatment cycle and could continue on therapy in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

The planned afatinib dose-escalation tiers were 20, 40, and 50 mg once daily. A 30-mg dose tier was added by a protocol amendment implemented in response to adverse events (AE) associated with afatinib observed in the 20 mg cohort. Dose escalation followed a standard 3+3 design with MTD determination based on dose-limiting toxicities (DLT; defined below) observed in the first treatment cycle. If no patients experienced a DLT at a given dose level, 3 patients were enrolled at the next dose level. Observation of DLT in 1 of 3 patients prompted enrollment of a further 3 patients at that dose level. Dose escalation continued if no further patients experienced a DLT in that cohort. The MTD was defined as the highest dose at which no more than 1 of 6 patients experienced any DLTs during the first cycle. Provision was made to expand the MTD level by up to 12 evaluable patients, such that the cumulative total of dose escalation and MTD expansion was a maximum of 18 patients treated at the MTD. If 4 or more patients at the expanded MTD experienced DLT, the dose was to be deescalated.

DLTs were defined as AEs considered by the investigators to be related to study treatment and meeting any of the following criteria according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 3.0: grade 4 hematologic toxicities; grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicity (except untreated nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea); grade 2 or higher worsening of cardiac left ventricular function or renal function; or grade 2 or higher diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting (persisting for 7 days or more despite supportive treatment). DLTs arising in subsequent cycles were analyzed separately. Patients who experienced DLT stopped treatment and resumed at a lower dose of afatinib following recovery to grade 1 or baseline within 14 days. A maximum of two afatinib dose reductions were allowed according to a prespecified schedule; however, the dose of afatinib could not be reduced below 20 mg, and patients experiencing DLT at the first dose level did not resume treatment.

Study conduct

This study was carried out according to the Declaration of Helsinki, the International Conference on Harmonization Harmonized Tripartite Guideline for Good Clinical Practice requirements and relevant local guidelines. Written informed consent was obtained before each patient's participation. Trial registration ID: NCT00950742.

Endpoints and assessments

The primary endpoint was the MTD of afatinib combined with trastuzumab. Secondary endpoints were the incidence and intensity of AEs (according to CTCAE), pharmacokinetic parameters of afatinib and trastuzumab when administered in combination, objective tumor response [i.e., complete response (CR) or partial response (PR)], best overall objective response (OR), disease control (DC), and progression-free survival (PFS). A first analysis was planned when all patients in the study had been evaluated for at least 6 months, had withdrawn from the study, or had died (whichever occurred first).

Safety assessments

Safety was assessed by monitoring AEs, laboratory values, and physical examinations throughout the study. Patients were required to report AEs throughout the study; these were graded according to CTCAE version 3.0. A serious AE (SAE) was defined as any AE that resulted in death, was immediately life-threatening, resulted in persistent or significant incapacity, required or prolonged patient hospitalization, resulted in a congenital defect, or was deemed serious for any other reason linked to a significant hazard. Physical examinations, including vital signs, laboratory evaluations, 12-lead electrocardiogram, and cardiac LVEF assessment by echography or multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan, were performed at screening and repeated throughout the study period (at weekly intervals except for echo/MUGA, which was performed at baseline and at 4 weeks). Medical judgment determined whether there was a relationship between an AE or SAE and study medication.

Pharmacokinetics assessments

Plasma and serum samples for pharmacokinetic analysis of afatinib and trastuzumab were taken before trastuzumab infusion and afatinib intake and again at the end of trastuzumab infusion on days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. On day 1, afatinib was taken at the end of the trastuzumab infusion to allow collection of comparative single-agent pharmacokinetic data. On each day, two samples were taken (one before and one immediately after the end of trastuzumab infusion), apart from on day 15 when, in addition to the before and immediately after trastuzumab infusion samples, six more samples were taken at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 hours after the start of trastuzumab infusion. The samples relevant to trastuzumab pharmacokinetic analysis were each of the before and immediately after samples on each day (10 samples overall). The samples relevant to afatinib pharmacokinetic analysis included all of the before trastuzumab samples on each day, plus all of the samples on day 15 (12 samples overall). Afatinib plasma concentrations were determined using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy assay at the Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH and Co. KG, Biberach, Germany. Trastuzumab concentrations in human serum were determined by a validated ELISA at QPS, Groningen, the Netherlands. Afatinib pharmacokinetic parameters in the presence of trastuzumab were compared with historical data from other monotherapy studies. To determine whether afatinib had any impact on the pharmacokinetic characteristics of trastuzumab, a simulation of trastuzumab serum concentrations was performed, according to a model described in the literature (16), and then compared with observed values.

Efficacy assessments

Tumor lesions were measured using CT or MRI within the 4 weeks preceding baseline and then every 8 weeks after start of treatment. Response [CR, PR, stable disease (SD), or progressive disease (PD)] was assessed according to RECIST version 1.1, with best response recorded from the start to the end of treatment. Disease control rate was defined as SD for at least 6 weeks, or CR/PR.

Statistical analysis

All data were summarized using descriptive statistics. No formal statistical inferences were planned or performed.

Patient population

Between September 2009 and September 2013, this study enrolled a total of 25 patients of whom 18 were treated (6 patients consented then failed screening; 1 patient was found to have rapidly progressive disease on a baseline CT scan and other therapy was thought to be more appropriate). Sixteen patients received afatinib daily doses of 20 mg and 2 received afatinib daily doses of 30 mg. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics are shown in Table 1. Overall, the median age was 59.5 years (range, 39–80 years). Seventeen patients had previously been treated with trastuzumab, 4 patients with lapatinib (all of whom had also received trastuzumab), and 1 patient had previously received pertuzumab following trastuzumab therapy.

Table 1.

Baseline demographics and characteristics of patients

20 mg afatinib + trastuzumab30 mg afatinib + trastuzumabTotal
Treated set, n (%) 16 (100) 2 (100) 18 (100) 
Median (range) age, y 60.5 (39–80) 52.5 (48–57) 59.5 (39–80) 
 ER status (% negative/positive) 56/44 0/100 50/50 
 PgR status (% negative/positive) 88/13 50/50 83/17 
Median (range) number of metastatic sites 2.0 (1–4) 2.5 (2–3) 2.0 (1–4) 
Metastatic sites, n (%) 
 Liver 7 (44) 2 (100) 9 (50) 
 Lung 5 (31) 2 (100) 7 (39) 
 Peritoneum 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
 Brain 1 (6) 0 (0) 1 (6) 
 Other 13 (81) 1 (50) 14 (78) 
Previous anticancer therapy, n (%) 
 Surgery 15 (94) 1 (50) 16 (89) 
 Chemotherapy 13 (81) 2 (100) 15 (83) 
 Radiotherapy 12 (75) 2 (100) 14 (78) 
Median (range) number of prior systemic therapy regimens 
 Cytotoxic 3 (0–5) 2 (2–2) 2.5 (0–5) 
 Trastuzumab 1 (0–5) 1 (1–1) 1 (0–5) 
 Lapatinib 0 (0–1) 0 (0–0) 0 (0–1) 
 Endocrine 0.5 (0–4) 2.5 (1–4) 1 (0–4) 
 Othera 0 (0–1) 0.5 (0–1) 0 (0–1) 
20 mg afatinib + trastuzumab30 mg afatinib + trastuzumabTotal
Treated set, n (%) 16 (100) 2 (100) 18 (100) 
Median (range) age, y 60.5 (39–80) 52.5 (48–57) 59.5 (39–80) 
 ER status (% negative/positive) 56/44 0/100 50/50 
 PgR status (% negative/positive) 88/13 50/50 83/17 
Median (range) number of metastatic sites 2.0 (1–4) 2.5 (2–3) 2.0 (1–4) 
Metastatic sites, n (%) 
 Liver 7 (44) 2 (100) 9 (50) 
 Lung 5 (31) 2 (100) 7 (39) 
 Peritoneum 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
 Brain 1 (6) 0 (0) 1 (6) 
 Other 13 (81) 1 (50) 14 (78) 
Previous anticancer therapy, n (%) 
 Surgery 15 (94) 1 (50) 16 (89) 
 Chemotherapy 13 (81) 2 (100) 15 (83) 
 Radiotherapy 12 (75) 2 (100) 14 (78) 
Median (range) number of prior systemic therapy regimens 
 Cytotoxic 3 (0–5) 2 (2–2) 2.5 (0–5) 
 Trastuzumab 1 (0–5) 1 (1–1) 1 (0–5) 
 Lapatinib 0 (0–1) 0 (0–0) 0 (0–1) 
 Endocrine 0.5 (0–4) 2.5 (1–4) 1 (0–4) 
 Othera 0 (0–1) 0.5 (0–1) 0 (0–1) 

Abbreviations: ER, estrogen receptor; PgR, progesterone receptor.

aPertuzumab or investigational drug.

DLTs and MTD

Only 1 of the first 3 patients enrolled into the afatinib 20 mg cohort experienced DLT (grade 3 diarrhea; Table 2). Therefore, according to the 3+3 design, an additional 3 evaluable patients were enrolled at the 20-mg dose level, none of whom experienced DLT. Dose escalation thereafter proceeded to the afatinib 30-mg level; however, the first 2 patients enrolled at this dose level experienced DLT (both grade 3 diarrhea; Table 2). Dose escalation was therefore stopped. As only 1 of 6 patients enrolled had DLT, the MTD of the combination was defined per the trial protocol as afatinib 20 mg plus the recommended weekly dose of trastuzumab for breast cancer, and the dose level expanded to enroll a total of 16 patients, 13 of whom were evaluable for MTD determination. A further 3 patients in the expansion cohort experienced DLT (all grade 3 diarrhea, Table 2), taking the total number of patients with DLT at the 20 mg afatinib dose level to four, and thereby fulfilling the requirement for dose deescalation. Doses of afatinib lower than 20 mg could not be tested and the trial was therefore closed.

Table 2.

DLTs in cycle 1

Dose levels
Trastuzumab (mg/kg weekly)Afatinib (mg/d)Patients treated, nPatients with DLT in cycle 1, nDLTs
2a 20 (dose-escalation cohort) 8b Diarrhea (grade 3) 
2a 20 (MTD expansion cohort) 8c Diarrhea (grade 3) 
2a 30 Diarrhea (grade 3) 
Dose levels
Trastuzumab (mg/kg weekly)Afatinib (mg/d)Patients treated, nPatients with DLT in cycle 1, nDLTs
2a 20 (dose-escalation cohort) 8b Diarrhea (grade 3) 
2a 20 (MTD expansion cohort) 8c Diarrhea (grade 3) 
2a 30 Diarrhea (grade 3) 

aStarting dose 4 mg/kg.

bOf whom six were evaluable.

cOf whom seven were evaluable.

Adverse events

All patients had at least one AE. The most frequently reported AEs [by Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) preferred term] were diarrhea (n = 17, 94%), nausea and rash (both n = 11, 61%), and decreased appetite and fatigue (both n = 10, 56%). AEs leading to discontinuation of study medication were reported for 7 (39%) patients, all of whom were treated with 20 mg afatinib once daily. SAEs occurred in 3 (17%) patients, all from the 20 mg afatinib cohort, which included 1 patient with diarrhea (drug related), 1 patient with acute renal failure (not drug related), and 1 patient who had a fatal pulmonary embolism (not drug related). The most common drug-related AEs (Table 3) at either dose (20 and 30 mg) were diarrhea (n = 17, 94%), rash and fatigue (both n = 10, 56%), nausea (n = 9, 50%), and skin fissures and decreased appetite (both n = 8, 44%). The majority of drug-related AEs were CTCAE grades 1 and 2. Of the 17 patients who experienced drug-related diarrhea, 7 of 15 patients in the 20 mg afatinib group and both patients in the 30 mg afatinib group had grade 3 events. Other grade 3 drug-related events comprised one decreased ejection fraction and one decreased hemoglobin value in the 20 mg afatinib group, and one elevated blood alkaline phosphatase in the 30 mg afatinib group. The patient with grade 3 decreased ejection fraction was enrolled into the study with an LVEF of 49%, which was later recorded as an important protocol violation; the subsequent grade 3 event was related to both study drugs. No drug-related AEs of grades 4 or 5 were reported.

Table 3.

Drug-related AEs occurring in ≥10% patients in combined 20 mg (n = 16) and 30 mg (n = 2) afatinib once-daily dose groups, overall, and by maximum CTCAE grade

Afatinib once daily + trastuzumab
MedDRA preferred termAll, n (%)Grade 1, n (%)Grade 2, n (%)Grade 3, n (%)
Patients with drug-related AEs 17 (94) 2 (11) 4 (22) 11 (61) 
Diarrhea 17 (94) 2 (11) 6 (33) 9 (50) 
Rash 10 (56) 7 (39) 3 (17) 0 (0) 
Fatigue 10 (56) 6 (33) 4 (22) 0 (0) 
Nausea 9 (50) 7 (39) 2 (11) 0 (0) 
Skin fissures 8 (44) 5 (28) 3 (17) 0 (0) 
Decreased appetite 8 (44) 6 (33) 2 (11) 0 (0) 
Oral pain 7 (39) 6 (33) 1 (6) 0 (0) 
Mouth ulceration 6 (33) 4 (22) 2 (11) 0 (0) 
Dry skin 5 (28) 4 (22) 1 (6) 0 (0) 
Epistaxis 5 (28) 5 (28) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Cheilitis 4 (22) 3 (17) 1 (6) 0 (0) 
Dyspepsia 4 (22) 4 (22) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Dysgeusia 3 (17) 3 (17) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Nasal discomfort 3 (17) 2 (11) 1 (6) 0 (0) 
Vomiting 3 (17) 3 (17) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Abdominal pain 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Abdominal pain upper 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Ageusia 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Decreased ejection fraction 2 (11) 0 (0) 1 (6) 1 (6) 
Dermatitis acneiform 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Dry mouth 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Foreign body sensation in eyes 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Mucosal inflammation 2 (11) 1 (6) 1 (6) 0 (0) 
Nasal congestion 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Pain in the extremities 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Rhinorrhea 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Stomatitis 2 (11) 1 (6) 1 (6) 0 (0) 
Afatinib once daily + trastuzumab
MedDRA preferred termAll, n (%)Grade 1, n (%)Grade 2, n (%)Grade 3, n (%)
Patients with drug-related AEs 17 (94) 2 (11) 4 (22) 11 (61) 
Diarrhea 17 (94) 2 (11) 6 (33) 9 (50) 
Rash 10 (56) 7 (39) 3 (17) 0 (0) 
Fatigue 10 (56) 6 (33) 4 (22) 0 (0) 
Nausea 9 (50) 7 (39) 2 (11) 0 (0) 
Skin fissures 8 (44) 5 (28) 3 (17) 0 (0) 
Decreased appetite 8 (44) 6 (33) 2 (11) 0 (0) 
Oral pain 7 (39) 6 (33) 1 (6) 0 (0) 
Mouth ulceration 6 (33) 4 (22) 2 (11) 0 (0) 
Dry skin 5 (28) 4 (22) 1 (6) 0 (0) 
Epistaxis 5 (28) 5 (28) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Cheilitis 4 (22) 3 (17) 1 (6) 0 (0) 
Dyspepsia 4 (22) 4 (22) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Dysgeusia 3 (17) 3 (17) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Nasal discomfort 3 (17) 2 (11) 1 (6) 0 (0) 
Vomiting 3 (17) 3 (17) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Abdominal pain 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Abdominal pain upper 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Ageusia 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Decreased ejection fraction 2 (11) 0 (0) 1 (6) 1 (6) 
Dermatitis acneiform 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Dry mouth 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Foreign body sensation in eyes 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Mucosal inflammation 2 (11) 1 (6) 1 (6) 0 (0) 
Nasal congestion 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Pain in the extremities 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Rhinorrhea 2 (11) 2 (11) 0 (0) 0 (0) 
Stomatitis 2 (11) 1 (6) 1 (6) 0 (0) 

Pharmacokinetics

There were 17 patients from whom data were available for pharmacokinetic analysis. Afatinib reached steady state by day 8 of treatment at the latest, and this was maintained until the end of the assessment period. The pharmacokinetic parameters for afatinib following once-daily 20 mg dosing with weekly trastuzumab infusions of 2 mg/kg are shown in Table 4. The variability of pharmacokinetic parameters in terms of the geometric coefficient of variance (gCV%) was high. Trough plasma concentration of afatinib remained stable throughout the observation period, with the exception of 1 patient who had an approximately 3.5-fold increase in trough plasma concentrations in comparison with the geometric mean (gMean) values on day 15 (data not shown). However, the afatinib trough plasma concentrations on days 8 and 22 were similar to the respective gMeans.

Table 4.

Pharmacokinetic parameters for afatinib following multiple once-daily oral administrations of 20 mg afatinib and trastuzumab weekly infusions 2 mg/kga

Afatinib pharmacokinetic parameterNgMeangCV%
AUC0–8,ss, ng·h/mL 10 116 73.6 
Cmax,ss, ng/mL 10 17.9 80.9 
Day 22 Cpre,ss, ng/mL 11 9.82 69.4 
Day 29 Cpre,ss, ng/mL 9.15 64.7 
tmax,ss, hb 11 4.25 0.750–7.02 
Afatinib pharmacokinetic parameterNgMeangCV%
AUC0–8,ss, ng·h/mL 10 116 73.6 
Cmax,ss, ng/mL 10 17.9 80.9 
Day 22 Cpre,ss, ng/mL 11 9.82 69.4 
Day 29 Cpre,ss, ng/mL 9.15 64.7 
tmax,ss, hb 11 4.25 0.750–7.02 

Abbreviations: AUC0–8,ss, area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time point 0 to 8 hours after dose administration at steady state; ss, steady state; tmax,ss = time to reach Cmax at steady state.

aStarting dose 4 mg/kg.

bFor tmax,ss, the median and range (min–max) are given.

The results of the comparison between observed and simulated trastuzumab pharmacokinetic values are shown in Table 5. The observed median trastuzumab concentrations were well captured within the respective 95% prediction intervals for all pharmacokinetic parameters. When comparing these observed values with the respective median of the individual 100 percentiles from each of the simulated studies, the deviation was between −20.4% and −4.9% for all pharmacokinetic parameters, including maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), on day 1, which represented trastuzumab exposure in the absence of afatinib (control). The 25th and 75th percentiles of the observed concentrations were also within the respective 95% prediction intervals, except for Cmax on day 1 and plasma concentration before infusion (Cpre) on day 8.

Table 5.

Comparison of observed and simulated trastuzumab serum concentrations across afatinib dose cohorts

Pharmacokinetic variableNPercentileObserved valueSimulated valueaDeviationb (%)
Day 1 Cmax, ng/mL 25th 91,300 63,200 (42,800–87,200) −30.8 
  50th (median) 98,400 79,000 (57,000–106,000) −19.7 
  75th 114,000 98,800 (70,800–137,000) −13.2 
Day 8 Cpre, ng/mL 25th 27,200 17,600 (10,500–26,500) −35.0 
  50th (median) 29,800 23,700 (15,800–34,200) −20.4 
  75th 36,700 31,300 (21,100–44,900) −14.8 
Day 15 Cpre, ng/mL 25th 30,200 19,900 (11,600–31,100) −34.1 
  50th (median) 30,900 26,800 (15,300–41,200) −13.4 
  75th 37,000 35,400 (21,900–53,700) −4.2 
Day 15 Cmax, ng/mL 25th 71,800 53,100 (36,600–76,600) −26.0 
  50th (median) 74,400 66,400 (47,100–93,500) −10.8 
  75th 79,800 81,900 (60,500–117,000) 2.7 
Day 29 Cpre, ng/mL 25th 34,100 26,200 (13,400–45,500) −23.2 
  50th (median) 36,300 34,500 (19,100–56,100) −4.9 
  75th 38,500 44,200 (25,200–75,000) 14.9 
Day 29 Cmax, ng/mL 50th (median)c 83,000 75,700 (45,500–127,000) −8.8 
Pharmacokinetic variableNPercentileObserved valueSimulated valueaDeviationb (%)
Day 1 Cmax, ng/mL 25th 91,300 63,200 (42,800–87,200) −30.8 
  50th (median) 98,400 79,000 (57,000–106,000) −19.7 
  75th 114,000 98,800 (70,800–137,000) −13.2 
Day 8 Cpre, ng/mL 25th 27,200 17,600 (10,500–26,500) −35.0 
  50th (median) 29,800 23,700 (15,800–34,200) −20.4 
  75th 36,700 31,300 (21,100–44,900) −14.8 
Day 15 Cpre, ng/mL 25th 30,200 19,900 (11,600–31,100) −34.1 
  50th (median) 30,900 26,800 (15,300–41,200) −13.4 
  75th 37,000 35,400 (21,900–53,700) −4.2 
Day 15 Cmax, ng/mL 25th 71,800 53,100 (36,600–76,600) −26.0 
  50th (median) 74,400 66,400 (47,100–93,500) −10.8 
  75th 79,800 81,900 (60,500–117,000) 2.7 
Day 29 Cpre, ng/mL 25th 34,100 26,200 (13,400–45,500) −23.2 
  50th (median) 36,300 34,500 (19,100–56,100) −4.9 
  75th 38,500 44,200 (25,200–75,000) 14.9 
Day 29 Cmax, ng/mL 50th (median)c 83,000 75,700 (45,500–127,000) −8.8 

aMedian of the individual percentiles derived from each of the 1,000 simulated studies together with the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles (= 95% prediction interval) in parentheses.

bThe deviation from the observed value was calculated as: (median of all simulated values–observed value)/observed value.

cResults for the 25th and 75th percentiles not shown due to the low number of patients.

Efficacy

The unconfirmed overall OR rate was 11% (n = 2, both PRs); a further 5 (28%) patients achieved a best response of SD (Supplementary Table S1). For the 2 patients with an OR, times to response were 57 and 58 days, and durations of response were 29 and 35 days. The DC rate was 39% (n = 7), with a median duration of DC of 111.0 days [95% confidence interval (CI), 85.0–388.0; interquartile range, 92–388]. The last patient to remain on treatment had a duration of DC of 1,270 days. Median duration of PFS was also 111.0 days (95% CI, 56.0–274.0). Best tumor shrinkage for 8 patients with evaluable baseline and on-treatment post-baseline tumor measurements is illustrated in Fig. 1.

Figure 1.

The Waterfall plot of target lesions, sum of diameters best change from baseline (%) for patients with evaluable baseline and on-treatment post-baseline tumor measurements. Ten patients did not have evaluable baseline and on-treatment post-baseline tumor measurements.

Figure 1.

The Waterfall plot of target lesions, sum of diameters best change from baseline (%) for patients with evaluable baseline and on-treatment post-baseline tumor measurements. Ten patients did not have evaluable baseline and on-treatment post-baseline tumor measurements.

Close modal

Treatment duration

The mean duration of exposure to study medication was 155 days. In total, 9 (50%) patients were treated for more than one treatment cycle. For these patients, the mean duration of exposure to study medication was 287.0 days (median, 112 days; range, 57–1,288). At the final analysis, all patients had discontinued treatment due to PD (n = 8), DLTs or other AEs (n = 7), or refusal to continue taking study medication (n = 3). One patient from the 20 mg cohort completed 45 cycles of treatment (1,288 days) with SD.

This study evaluated the MTD, safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of afatinib in combination with trastuzumab in patients with advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. The MTD for daily oral afatinib when combined with weekly trastuzumab infusions was 20 mg. However, when the 20 mg cohort was expanded, 4 of 13 patients experienced DLTs, which according to the protocol required a lower dose tier to be examined. Because there was no possible lower dose tier, due to the lack of availability of afatinib in a dose formulation below 20 mg, further recruitment into the study was stopped.

All DLTs observed were diarrhea (all grade 3), which is a known AE associated with afatinib (17). The incidence of diarrhea in one phase II afatinib monotherapy study in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer was 90.2% (N = 41) for afatinib 50 mg (11), whereas in this study, in which a lower dose of afatinib was combined with trastuzumab, the incidence was 94% (N = 18). In the Neo ALTTO study the combination of lapatinib and trastuzumab was associated with a higher rate of grade 3 diarrhea than that seen with trastuzumab alone (21% vs. 2%, respectively; ref. 18); diarrhea is common with lapatinib monotherapy (18, 19).

AEs of diarrhea can be effectively managed with antidiarrheal medication. This was recognized in the protocol for this study, which required loperamide to be available to patients at all times and allowed dosing up to 20 mg per day, in accordance with current clinical practice for the management of the gastrointestinal AEs associated with afatinib (17). Also, in the course of this study, addition of codeine phosphate to antidiarrheal therapy (which was not a protocol recommendation) showed positive effects in some patients. Use of antidiarrheal medication during the study was required to be recorded; however, not all patients who had diarrhea reported use of antidiarrheal medication. Thus, it is possible that management of diarrhea was suboptimal in some patients. Proper and prompt management of diarrhea with loperamide, as recommended in afatinib studies, combined with patient education regarding compliance with antidiarrheal therapy and dietary measures, may improve tolerance of the combination of afatinib with trastuzumab.

On the basis of the metabolic and pharmacokinetic characteristics of afatinib and trastuzumab, a pharmacokinetic drug–drug interaction is considered unlikely. Afatinib undergoes minimal metabolism, and is excreted via the enterohepatic system. The in vitro metabolic profile of afatinib and pharmacokinetic data suggest no interaction between afatinib and cytochrome P450 substrates (20). Trastuzumab has a half-life of up to 28.5 days (21) and has shown additive effects with other agents, including taxanes and vinorelbine (22, 23). The overall pharmacokinetic profiles observed in this study were consistent with the known characteristics of afatinib and trastuzumab (12, 24), and there was no evidence that trastuzumab had a relevant effect on the pharmacokinetics of afatinib or vice versa. gMean pharmacokinetic parameters after multiple administration of afatinib once daily in the presence of trastuzumab were similar to those following multiple administrations of afatinib as monotherapy in solid tumors, and in keeping with experience detailed in a recent meta-analysis (25). Furthermore, the findings from the comparison between observed and simulated trastuzumab pharmacokinetic values indicate that any pharmacokinetic interaction between afatinib and trastuzumab is unlikely. Therefore, the incidence of diarrhea with afatinib and trastuzumab combination therapy in this study is more likely the result of a pharmacodynamic interaction than a pharmacokinetic interaction.

Despite the small population size and trastuzumab-resistant/-refractory disease at study entry [17/18 patients (94%) had progressed following trastuzumab treatment], there were indications of clinical antitumor activity for the combined therapy of afatinib plus weekly trastuzumab (OR rate, 11%). The last patient to remain on treatment completed 45 cycles of treatment, which was relatively well tolerated, and had a best response of SD associated with a duration of DC of 1,270 days. Before study entry, this patient had already received three lines of chemotherapy, as well as trastuzumab and pertuzumab, all with a best response of SD.

Previously, afatinib monotherapy was shown to be clinically active in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: in an open-label, single-arm, phase II study of afatinib in 41 patients following trastuzumab failure, PR was achieved in 4 patients and SD in 8 patients (maintained for at least four cycles; ref. 11). Other TKIs are under investigation in this setting. Neratinib is a potent irreversible TKI that blocks signal transduction through EGFR, HER2, and HER4. In a nonrandomized phase II trial, 136 patients were treated with neratinib monotherapy. The OR rate was 24% in the 66 patients who had received prior trastuzumab treatment and was 56% for patients with no prior trastuzumab treatment (26). A phase III study of neratinib in combination with capecitabine versus lapatinib and capecitabine is underway in women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01808573).

Dual HER2 blockade with the combination of trastuzumab and a TKI, such as lapatinib or afatinib, alone or in combination with chemotherapy, is also a therapeutic option for trastuzumab-refractory metastatic breast cancer (14). The reversible TKI lapatinib has shown activity in metastatic breast cancer in combination with trastuzumab. This combination has now received approval in Europe for adult patients with breast cancer whose tumors overexpress HER2 (ErbB2), with hormone receptor–negative metastatic disease that has progressed on prior trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy. Lapatinib and trastuzumab demonstrated a significant 4.5-month median overall survival advantage compared with lapatinib monotherapy in patients with heavily pretreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (13). However, reversible multitargeted TKIs are also limited by the development of resistance, although afatinib's irreversible ErbB family blockade may provide a strategy to overcome this limitation.

The inability to escalate afatinib to doses achieved in other studies due to excessive DLTs of diarrhea did not permit recommendation of a phase II dose. However, further assessment of afatinib with trastuzumab is warranted in HER2-positive advanced cancers with an optimal management/prevention of diarrhea. A new phase I study is currently ongoing with the aim of determining the MTD of afatinib in combination with three-weekly trastuzumab in HER2-overexpressing cancer and assessing the efficacy of the combination MTD dosage (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01649271).

The MTD of afatinib was 20 mg daily in combination with the recommended weekly dose of trastuzumab. This MTD cannot be recommended for phase II development without strict diarrhea management; however, lower doses could be explored if formulation allowed. Signs of clinical activity were seen in trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer, suggesting that further investigation with optimal diarrhea management is warranted.

R. Plummer reports receiving other commercial research support from Boehringer Ingelheim. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed by the other authors.

The authors were fully responsible for all content and editorial decisions, were involved at all stages of article development, and have approved the final version.

Conception and design: A. Ring, R. Plummer, M. Uttenreuther-Fischer, G. Temple, K. Pelling, D. Schnell

Development of methodology: A. Ring, M. Uttenreuther-Fischer, G. Temple, D. Schnell

Acquisition of data (provided animals, acquired and managed patients, provided facilities, etc.): A. Ring, D. Wheatley, H. Hatcher, R. Laing, R. Plummer, G. Temple, D. Schnell

Analysis and interpretation of data (e.g., statistical analysis, biostatistics, computational analysis): A. Ring, D. Wheatley, R. Plummer, M. Uttenreuther-Fischer, G. Temple, K. Pelling, D. Schnell

Writing, review, and/or revision of the manuscript: A. Ring, D. Wheatley, H. Hatcher, R. Plummer, M. Uttenreuther-Fischer, G. Temple, K. Pelling, D. Schnell

Administrative, technical, or material support (i.e., reporting or organizing data, constructing databases): M. Uttenreuther-Fischer, G. Temple, D. Schnell

Study supervision: A. Ring, M. Uttenreuther-Fischer, G. Temple

Medical writing assistance, supported financially by Boehringer Ingelheim, was provided by Evelyn Harvey of Ogilvy Healthworld and Christine Arris of GeoMed, part of the KnowledgePoint360 Group, an Ashfield company, during the preparation of this article. Dr. Ring acknowledges the support of the Royal Marsden National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Cancer. D. Schnell emphasizes the support of M. Freiwald, who performed the trastuzumab simulations.

This study was supported by Boehringer Ingelheim.

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

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