Open-Label, Phase II, Multicenter, Randomized Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Two Dose Levels of Pertuzumab, a Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Dimerization Inhibitor, in Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

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Abstract
Purpose: Pertuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody inhibiting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) dimerization. The aim of this phase II trial was to assess the antitumor activity and safety profile of pertuzumab monotherapy in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. The utility of biomarkers detected in paraffin-embedded tissue as predictors of response was also explored. Patients and Methods: This was an international, multicenter, open-label, randomized phase II study. Patients (n = 79) with centrally confirmed HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive pertuzumab once every 3 weeks with a loading dose of 840 mg followed thereafter by either 420 mg (arm A) or 1,050 mg (arm B). Patients were stratified by country and prior taxane therapy. Results: Of 79 patients who were randomly assigned, 78 were included in the intent-to-treat population. In arm A (n = 41), two patients had partial responses, and 18 patients (44%) experienced stable disease (SD) lasting ≥ 12 weeks. In arm B (n = 37), SD was observed in 14 patients (38%). Overall, six of 78 patients responded or had SD ≥ 6 months. Pertuzumab was generally well tolerated, and most adverse events were mild to moderate. Decline in left ventricular ejection fraction of ≥ 10% and/or to less than 50% was observed in eight patients, with one case of congestive heart failure in arm A. Pharmacokinetic data supported a fixed dose of pertuzumab once every 3 weeks. Conclusion: The limited efficacy observed in this study, generally SD of relatively short duration, suggested little benefit of further investigation of single-agent pertuzumab in unselected patients with HER2-negative disease.