NT-proBNP to Assess Trastuzumab-induced Cardiotoxicity

Sponsor: Swedish Association of Breast Oncologists (SABO), Clinical Trial Unit, Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Design:This is an national multicentre single arm phase II trial for patients with primary HER2 positive breast cancer planned for neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment with HER2 blocking agents.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the sensitivity and specificity of NT-proBNP for detection of cardiac failure in patients with primary breast cancer that receive neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment with HER2 blocking compounds.

Background: Patients with HER2 positive breast cancer > 20 mm and/or with lymph node metastasis receive, according to the national guidelines 4 courses of double antibody blockade with trastuzumab and pertuzumab plus a taxane for 12 weeks followed by EC (epirubicin/cyclophosphamide) every 3rd week times 3 in the neoadjuvant setting followed by continued HER2 blockade with trastuzumab or TDM-1 for a total of 17 courses. Patients with tumours < 20 mm and node-negative disease start with surgery followed by adjuvant treatment with EC x 4 followed by trastuzumab and a taxane for 12 weeks, thereafter trastuzumab x 13 is given as a single agent. For patients with tumours < 10 mm and node negative it is considered sufficient to give only a taxane plus trastuzumab for 12 weeks followed by trastuzumab times 13. The latter less toxic regimen has also been used in elderly fragile patients.

The risk of cardiac dysfunction as determined by a reduction in the Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) below 50% has been estimated to approximately 3-4% in the large registration trials.

Cardiac function is followed by repeated echocardiography (ECHO)/ Multigated Acquisition Scan (MUGA) that are performed before start of HER2 blocking treatment, after 6 and 12 months (when the treatment is completed.

Because cardiac toxicity is very low, a labour-intensive method needs to be carried out unnecessarily on a large number of patients. We have shown in a single centre pilot study of 136 patients that NT-proBNP has a high sensitivity and specificity compared with ECHO to correctly diagnose patients with cardiac toxicity during adjuvant/neoadjuvant HER2 treatment.

Inclusion criteria

• Histological confirmed HER2 positive primary BC planned for adjuvant/neoadjuvant treatment with chemotherapy plus HER2 blocking agents.
• Patients ≥18 years
• ECOG/WHO 0-1
• Adequate organ function for the planned treatment according to local guidelines.
• No distant metastasis (CT/MRI only if clinically indicated).
• Negative pregnancy test within 14 days prior to start of treatment.
• If of childbearing potential, willing to use an effective form of contraception.
• No other malignancy during the last 5 years except for radically treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or CIS of the cervix.
• Signed informed consent and willingness to follow the trial procedures.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with previous heart disease recommended special follow-up during treatment with high risk of termination of treatment.
• Evidence of any other medical conditions (such as psychiatric illness, infectious diseases, neurological conditions, physical examination or laboratory findings) that may interfere with the planned treatment or affect patient compliance.
• Pregnancy and breast feeding.
• Concurrent malignancy requiring therapy (excluding non-invasive carcinoma or carcinoma in situ).

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