Feasibility of Serial Multisite Image-guided Biopsy to Study Breast Cancer Evolution

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women and is the second leading cause of female cancer death in the UK. Metastatic breast cancer has a historical five-year survival of 26% in England, although there is considerable variation by histology, with the poorest outcomes observed in patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Therapeutic approaches are chosen based on tumour clinical and pathological features, including oestrogen hormone receptor (ER) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, however, patients with advanced disease almost inevitably develop therapy resistance and disease progression.

Next generation sequencing technologies have allowed us to understand the biology of breast cancer at a previously unprecedented depth. While the molecular landscape of early breast cancer has been extensively investigated, our understanding of the molecular basis of metastatic breast cancer remains more limited. In the clinic, metastatic breast cancer tissue is often biopsied once, from a single site, at the time of diagnosis. This biopsy sampling method is under-representative of the total disease burden and does not take into consideration the fact that metastatic disease is heterogeneous and evolves during the course of the disease.

The development of a method to serially sample multiple disease sites that is acceptable to patients will allow comprehensive evaluation of the heterogeneity of their disease and allow a deeper understanding of tumour heterogeneity, the mechanisms underlying treatment resistance as well as the biological processes governing metastatic behaviour. This will enable us to develop new cancer treatments and new ways of monitoring response to cancer therapies.

FORTITUDE will evaluate established standard of care biopsy techniques (fine needle biopsy and core needle biopsy) in a serial and multisite approach in patients with metastatic breast cancer or with locally advanced but inoperable breast cancer. Tumour tissue will be acquired at:

• Baseline (mandatory), defined as:

• At diagnosis of locally advanced but inoperable breast cancer or metastatic disease OR
• In patients with established locally advanced but inoperable breast cancer or metastatic disease who require re-biopsy for clinical reasons
• At every diagnosis of disease progression (optional)

No more than a total of four lesions will be biopsied in one sitting, with a maximum of three anatomical sites targeted (and no more than two solid organs). When tissue sampling is required as part of clinical care, patients will be invited to undergo additional serial multisite sampling. The sampling scheme will be repeated at subsequent relevant time points. This will be coupled with blood sampling when clinically indicated, including prior to each cycle of systemic therapy, and on disease progression. Furthermore, any cerebrospinal, ascitic and pleural fluid drained as part of clinical care can also be collected and profiled within this study.

Inclusion criteria

• Histologically confirmed locally advanced, inoperable breast cancer or metastatic breast cancer OR radiological evidence of metastatic disease with a high index of suspicion that this is a recurrence of a previously diagnosed breast cancer.
• Be aged 18 years and over.
• Have given written informed consent to participate.

Exclusion criteria

• Metastatic disease limited to bones, without a soft tissue component.
• Any bleeding disorders or anticoagulation that cannot be corrected and that would render the risk of biopsy unacceptable.
• If the consultant physician involved in the care of the patient assesses and decides the risk of the biopsy procedures is significant, defined as greater than 1% risk of significant complication.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 3 and higher.
• Known chronic infectious disease (Hepatitis B and C, HIV) that may impact patient safety.
• Presence of any psychological, familial or sociological condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule.