Trastuzumab Plus Chemotherapy vs Chemotherapy Alone in First-line HER2 Positive Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer Patients

Title of study- Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy vs Chemotherapy alone in first-line HER2 positive advanced biliary tract cancer patients - a randomized non-blinded two-arm Phase III prospective clinical trial (TAB - 2 study)

Indication- HER2-positive advanced/metastatic biliary tract cancers fit for first-line chemotherapy with gemcitabine-based combination

Type of Study- Two arm open-label prospective Phase III parallel design randomized superiority clinical trial

Biliary tract cancers (BTC), including gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinomas, are uncommon but aggressive tumors with poor prognosis in the advanced or metastatic setting. The current standard first-line treatment is gemcitabine combined with a platinum agent, which offers limited benefit. Emerging molecular profiling has identified HER2 overexpression or amplification in a subset of BTCs, particularly in gallbladder cancer, and has opened new avenues for targeted therapy.

Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the HER2 receptor, has shown clinical activity in HER2-positive BTCs in early-phase studies. Preliminary evidence from a single-arm Phase II study (TAB trial) suggests that combining trastuzumab with chemotherapy may significantly improve progression-free survival in treatment-naïve HER2-positive patients.

The TAB-2 study is a prospective, randomized, open-label Phase III trial designed to evaluate whether adding trastuzumab to first-line chemotherapy improves clinical outcomes in patients with HER2-positive advanced BTC. Patients will be randomized to receive chemotherapy with or without trastuzumab. Chemotherapy regimens may include gemcitabine and cisplatin, with or without nab-paclitaxel, based on physician discretion. Trastuzumab will be administered every three weeks along with chemotherapy until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent.

The study will be conducted at a single academic center in India, with a planned enrollment of 196 participants over 5 years. This trial aims to provide definitive randomized evidence regarding the benefit of incorporating HER2-targeted therapy into the first-line treatment of advanced BTC and to inform future clinical practice for this rare molecular subtype.

Primary endpoint- To evaluate the difference in progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months between Trastuzumab - chemotherapy combination and chemotherapy alone.

Treatment scheme

• Arm A (Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy)-Gemcitabine plus Trastuzumab OR Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin Plus Nab-paclitaxel on D1 and D8 Plus Trastuzumab D1 Start of next cycle on D 22
• Arm B (Chemotherapy alone)- Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin D1 and D8 q 21 days OR Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin Plus Nab-paclitaxel D1 and D8) Start of next cycle on D 22 Treatment in both arms will be continued till unacceptable toxicity, death, or consent withdrawal.

In both arms Immunotherapy is allowed as per the discretion of the treating physician

Sample Size calculation- Based published phase 2 single-arm TAB trial, the median PFS in HER2 positive biliary tract cancer with Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy was approximately 8 months (6-month PFS was approximately 75 - 80%), while the median PFS with chemotherapy alone ranges from 5-6 months (6-month PFS approximately 55%-65%). Assuming the Trastuzumab combination will increase the 6-month PFS to 75% in comparison to 55% with chemotherapy alone, with a power of 80% and alpha of 0.05 and margin of risk difference of 3 %, a Phase III randomized study will require a total of 196 patients (98 per arm), assuming an attrition rate of 5 % per arm with a study accrual period of 5 years. Follow up the duration of the study will be 6 months post-accrual of the last patient.

Inclusion criteria

Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the biliary tract, with the following specifications -

• Biliary tract cancers include gallbladder cancer, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.
• HER2-positive by IHC or FISH
• Age >=18 years.
• ECOG performance status 0 - 2.
• Unresectable or metastatic cancer.
• Patient does not have any contraindications to receive chemotherapy or trastuzumab.
• Adequate hematological, hepatic, and renal function parameters- Hematological- Hb> 80 g/L, ANC ≥ 1.5 x 109/L, platelets ≥ 100 x 109/L. Liver functions- bilirubin ≤ 2 x upper limit normal (ULN), AST/ALT ≤ 5 x ULN, alkaline phosphatase ≤ 6 x upper limit normal (ULN) S. albumin ≥ 30 g/L.

Renal function- Creatinine ≤ 1.5 ULN, Creatinine clearance >= 30 mL/min.

• Normal cardiac ejection fraction and cardiac function, as assessed by echocardiography, ejection fraction (EF) >=50% or above the lower limit of normal. ECG with no clinically relevant abnormalities.
• Women of childbearing age should have a negative pregnancy test at the time of randomization and should be willing to use adequate contraception during the treatment phase of the trial.
• Subjects must provide written informed consent prior to the performance of study-specific procedures or assessments, and must be willing to comply with treatment and follow-up assessments and procedures.
• Subjects who have received adjuvant chemotherapy will be considered eligible provided that therapy is completed more than 12 months before study enrollment. Patients who have received radiation therapy and surgery will also be eligible provided the interventions have been completed 3 and 2 weeks, respectively, before enrolment in the study.
• Negative serum pregnancy test (if applicable) and willing for adequate contraception.
• At least one measurable disease according to RECIST criteria.
• Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.

Exclusion criteria

• Distal cholangiocarcinoma
• Known hypersensitivity or contraindications against gemcitabine, cisplatin, Nab- paclitaxel, or trastuzumab.
• Clinically significant active coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, or congestive heart failure, NYHA III-IV.
• Clinically significant valvular defect.
• Past or current history of other malignancies not curatively treated and without evidence of disease for more than 5 years, except for curatively treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin and in situ carcinoma of the cervix.
• Severe dyspnea at rest due to complications of advanced malignancy or requiring supplementary oxygen therapy.
• Baseline neuropathy > NCI Grade I.
• Subject pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant within 6 months after the end of treatment.
• Received prior chemotherapy within 1 year.
• Any active ILD/ history of lung illness requiring bronchodilator drugs.
• Patients with prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease will be ineligible for enrollment in the study.