Sacituzumab govitecan in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer Journal Article


Authors: Bardia, A.; Hurvitz, S. A.; Tolaney, S. M.; Loirat, D.; Punie, K.; Oliveira, M.; Brufsky, A.; Sardesai, S. D.; Kalinsky, K.; Zelnak, A. B.; Weaver, R.; Traina, T.; Dalenc, F.; Aftimos, P.; Lynce, F.; Diab, S.; Cortés, J.; O'Shaughnessy, J.; Diéras, V.; Ferrario, C.; Schmid, P.; Carey, L. A.; Gianni, L.; Piccart, M. J.; Loibl, S.; Goldenberg, D. M.; Hong, Q.; Olivo, M. S.; Itri, L. M.; Rugo, H. S.; for the ASCENT Clinical Trial Investigators
Article Title: Sacituzumab govitecan in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer have a poor prognosis. Sacituzumab govitecan is an antibody-drug conjugate composed of an antibody targeting the human trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (Trop-2), which is expressed in the majority of breast cancers, coupled to SN-38 (topoisomerase I inhibitor) through a proprietary hydrolyzable linker. METHODS In this randomized, phase 3 trial, we evaluated sacituzumab govitecan as compared with single-agent chemotherapy of the physician's choice (eribulin, vinorelbine, capecitabine, or gemcitabine) in patients with relapsed or refractory metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. The primary end point was progression-free survival (as determined by blinded independent central review) among patients without brain metastases. RESULTS A total of 468 patients without brain metastases were randomly assigned to receive sacituzumab govitecan (235 patients) or chemotherapy (233 patients). The median age was 54 years; all the patients had previous use of taxanes. The median progression-free survival was 5.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3 to 6.3; 166 events) with sacituzumab govitecan and 1.7 months (95% CI, 1.5 to 2.6; 150 events) with chemotherapy (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.32 to 0.52; P<0.001). The median overall survival was 12.1 months (95% CI, 10.7 to 14.0) with sacituzumab govitecan and 6.7 months (95% CI, 5.8 to 7.7) with chemotherapy (hazard ratio for death, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.59; P<0.001). The percentage of patients with an objective response was 35% with sacituzumab govitecan and 5% with chemotherapy. The incidences of key treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or higher were neutropenia (51% with sacituzumab govitecan and 33% with chemotherapy), leukopenia (10% and 5%), diarrhea (10% and <1%), anemia (8% and 5%), and febrile neutropenia (6% and 2%). There were three deaths owing to adverse events in each group; no deaths were considered to be related to sacituzumab govitecan treatment. CONCLUSIONS Progression-free and overall survival were significantly longer with sacituzumab govitecan than with single-agent chemotherapy among patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Myelosuppression and diarrhea were more frequent with sacituzumab govitecan. © 2021 Massachusetts Medical Society.
Keywords: adult; controlled study; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; survival analysis; clinical trial; mortality; antineoplastic agents; comparative study; antineoplastic agent; neoplasm recurrence, local; tumor volume; randomized controlled trial; camptothecin; drug resistance; drug resistance, neoplasm; tumor antigen; monoclonal antibody; antigens, neoplasm; tumor burden; multicenter study; tumor recurrence; cell adhesion molecules; phase 3 clinical trial; cell adhesion molecule; progression-free survival; triple negative breast cancer; antibody conjugate; immunoconjugates; antibodies, monoclonal, humanized; very elderly; humans; human; male; female; immune checkpoint inhibitors; triple negative breast neoplasms; sacituzumab govitecan; tacstd2 protein, human
Journal Title: New England Journal of Medicine
Volume: 384
Issue: 16
ISSN: 0028-4793
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society  
Date Published: 2021-04-22
Start Page: 1529
End Page: 1541
Language: English
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2028485
PUBMED: 33882206
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 June 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Tiffany A Traina
    250 Traina