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Phase II

Datopotamab Deruxtecan and Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for the Treatment of HER2-Negative Unresectable, Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

  • Study HIC#:2000039135
  • Last Updated:04/24/2025

This phase II trial evaluates the effectiveness of sequential datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) and trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in treating patients with HER2-negative breast cancer that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable), that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) or that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). Dato-DXd is in a class of medications called antibody-drug conjugates (ADC). It is composed of a monoclonal antibody, called datopotamab, linked to a chemotherapy drug, called deruxtecan. Datopotamab attaches to TROP2 positive tumor cells in a targeted way and delivers deruxtecan to kill them. T-DXd is also an ADC. In T-DXd, trastuzumab attaches to HER2 positive tumor cells in a targeted way and delivers deruxtecan to kill them. Giving Dato-DXd and T-DXd sequentially may kill more tumor cells in patients with HER2-negative unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic breast cancer.

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    Eligibility Criteria

    Inclusion Criteria

    • Participants must have histologically or cytologically confirmed invasive breast cancer with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic disease. Participants without pathologic or cytologic confirmation of metastatic disease should have unequivocal evidence of metastasis from physical examination or radiologic evaluation; i.e., visible chest wall disease or metastases on imaging meeting standard radiology criteria (i.e., lymph nodes larger than 1 cm in the short axis diameter)
    • Hormone receptor (HR) and HER2 status * Participants must have history of HER2-low or HER2-0 breast cancer per local testing, and no known history of HER2-positive breast cancer. All available prior HER2 pathology results must be HER2-low or HER2-0; no known HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) 3+ or ISH-amplified breast cancer is allowed. ** HER2-low status is defined as IHC 1+ or 2+/ISH non-amplified breast cancer in any prior tumor sample (e.g., primary or metastatic tumor) collected prior to study enrollment: IHC 2+/ISH–, IHC 1+/ISH–, or IHC 1+/ISH untested (note: ISH may be determined by either fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH] or dual in situ hybridization [DISH]). * HER2-0 status is defined as IHC 0 (null or ultra-low) in all prior tumor samples with available HER2 pathology results: IHC 0+/ISH- or IHC 0+/ISH untested (IHC 0+: IHC 0 absent membrane staining [null] or IHC 0 with membrane staining >0 and <1+ [ultra-low]). Note: Enrollment of patients with HER2-0 breast cancer will be capped at 15% in each ADC1 and ADC2 cohort * Participants with any HR status will be allowed on study. ** HR-positive cohorts: ER and/or PR expression ≥ 1% ** HR-negative cohorts: ER and PR expression < 1% * The most recent pathology results will be considered for enrollment to ADC1 cohorts according to local testing of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA)-certified environment. ER, PR and HER2 status per local testing must be known prior to study registration. Clinical ER, PR and HER2 testing on the research biopsy pre- ADC1 is not required; however, if clinical receptor testing on a pre-ADC1 research biopsy is performed (at the discretion of the treating investigator), results must be available prior to registration to confirm cohort eligibility for ADC1 * Clinical ER, PR and HER2 testing post-ADC1/pre-ADC2 is not required for patients who crossover on-study from ADC1 to ADC2. The receptor status used to determine cohort eligibility for ADC1 will be used to determine cohort eligibility for ADC2, except if clinical receptor testing post-ADC1/pre-ADC2 is performed (at the discretion of the treating investigator), in which case the results (according to local testing of ER, PR and HER2 in a CLIA-certified environment) must be available to confirm cohort eligibility for ADC2 * For patients who enroll directly on-study to ADC2 (i.e., ADC1 received off-study as part of routine clinical practice or another clinical trial), the most recent pathology results will be considered for enrollment to ADC2 cohorts according to local testing of ER, PR and HER2 in a CLIA-certified environment. Clinical ER, PR and HER2 testing on the research biopsy pre-ADC2 is not required; however, if clinical receptor testing on a pre-ADC2 research biopsy is performed (at the discretion of the treating investigator), results must be available prior to registration to confirm cohort eligibility for ADC2
    • Participants must have measurable disease per RECIST 1.1
    • Participants must be willing to undergo research biopsies (at baseline prior to ADC1, after 3 weeks of treatment with ADC1, at progression on ADC1 or baseline prior to ADC2). If a biopsy is not safely accessible, OR if the only area accessible to biopsy is also the only site of measurable disease per RECIST 1.1 criteria, permission must be obtained from the Sponsor-Investigator to forgo the mandatory research biopsy. Formal eligibility exception would not be required in these circumstances
    • Prior endocrine therapy: Participants with HR-positive breast cancer considered to be candidates for endocrine therapy must have: a) progressed on or within 12 months of adjuvant endocrine therapy or received at least one line of endocrine therapy in the metastatic setting, and b) received prior CDK4/6 inhibitor. Prior endocrine therapy does not require washout
    • Prior chemotherapy: Prior lines of chemotherapy allowed in the metastatic setting are specified below. Prior topoisomerase I inhibitor therapy is not allowed in any setting, except as specified below for ADC2 cohorts. Participants may have discontinued all chemotherapy at least 14 days prior to study treatment initiation. If a chemotherapy regimen was given for less than one cycle, it will not be counted as a prior line. Metastatic recurrence during or within 6 months of the last dose neo-/adjuvant chemotherapy will be counted as one prior line. All toxicities related to prior chemotherapy must have resolved to CTCAE version (v) 5.0 grade 1 or lower, unless otherwise specified, except alopecia (any grade allowed) and neuropathy (grade 2 or lower allowed) * ADC1 T-DXd cohorts: Participants may have progressed on no more than 1 prior line of cytotoxic chemotherapy in the metastatic setting * ADC1 Dato-DXd cohorts: Participants may have progressed on no more than 1 prior line of cytotoxic chemotherapy in the metastatic setting * ADC2 T-DXd cohorts: Participants may have progressed on no more than 2 prior lines of cytotoxic chemotherapy in the metastatic setting, including Dato-DXd (single-agent) as the most recent therapy. Confirmation of documented progressive disease on Dato-DXd (single-agent) as the most recent therapy is required prior to enrollment. No other topoisomerase I inhibitor is allowed in the metastatic setting * ADC2 Dato-DXd cohorts: Participants may have progressed on no more than 2 prior lines of cytotoxic chemotherapy in the metastatic setting, including T-DXd (single-agent) as the most recent therapy. Confirmation of documented progressive disease on T-DXd (single-agent) as the most recent therapy is required prior to enrollment. No other topoisomerase I inhibitor is allowed in the metastatic setting
    • Prior biologic or targeted therapy: Patients must have discontinued all biologic or targeted therapy (e.g., CDK4/6 inhibitor) at least 14 days prior to study treatment initiation. All toxicities related to prior biologic or targeted therapy must have resolved to CTCAE v 5.0 grade 1 or lower, unless otherwise
    • Prior investigational agents for treatment of cancer: Investigational agents must have been discontinued at least 21 days prior to initiation of study therapy. All toxicities related to prior investigational agents must have resolved to CTCAE v 5.0 grade 1 or lower, unless otherwise specified
    • Prior radiation therapy: Patients may have received prior radiation therapy. Radiation therapy must be completed at least 14 days prior to the initiation of study treatment (at least 7 days for stereotactic radiosurgery [SRS]), and all toxicities related to prior radiation therapy must have resolved to CTCAE v 5.0 grade 1 or lower, unless otherwise specified. A 7-day washout is permitted for palliative radiation (≤ 2 weeks of radiotherapy) to non-CNS disease. Note: Radiation therapy to the thorax must be completed at least 4 weeks prior to the initiation of study treatment
    • Patients with history of treated CNS metastases are eligible, provided the following criteria are met: * Disease outside the CNS is present * Prior SRS/stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) or whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) should be completed ≥ 7 days before study treatment initiation * Recovery from acute toxicity associated with the treatment to ≤ CTCAE v 5.0 grade 1 or baseline (with the exception of alopecia), with no requirement for escalating doses of corticosteroids over the past 7 days
    • Patients with new or progressive brain metastases (active brain metastases) or leptomeningeal disease are eligible if the treating physician determines that immediate CNS specific treatment is not required and is unlikely to be required during the first cycle of therapy, there is no requirement for corticosteroids, and the patient is asymptomatic
    • Participants on bisphosphonates or RANK ligand inhibitors may continue receiving therapy during study treatment and also may initiate therapy with these agents on study if clinically indicated
    • The subject is ≥ 18 years old
    • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1 (Karnofsky > 60%)
    • Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL (within 2 weeks prior to study treatment initiation)
    • Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL (within 2 weeks prior to study treatment initiation)
    • Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dl (within 2 weeks prior to study treatment initiation)
    • International normalized ratio (INR)/prothrombin time (PT)/activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) unless participant is receiving anticoagulant therapy and PT or aPTT is in therapeutic range of anticoagulant (within 2 weeks prior to study treatment initiation)
    • Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) (or ≤ 3.0 x ULN in patients with documented Gilbert's syndrome) (within 2 weeks prior to study treatment initiation)
    • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase [SGPT]) ≤ 2.5 x institutional ULN or ≤ 5.0 x institutional ULN for participants with documented liver metastases (within 2 weeks prior to study treatment initiation)
    • Serum or plasma creatinine ≤ 1.5 x institutional ULN OR creatinine clearance (as calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation) ≥ 30 mL/min/ 1.73m^2 for participants with creatinine levels above institutional ULN (within 2 weeks prior to study treatment initiation)
    • Resolution of all toxicities related to prior anticancer therapy to grade ≤ 1 or baseline, including toxicities from ADC1 before enrolling to ADC2 (except alopecia; any grade alopecia allowed). Note: Subjects may be enrolled with chronic, stable grade 2 toxicities (defined as no worsening to > grade 2 for at least 3 months prior to study treatment initiation, and managed with standard of care treatment) that the investigator deems related to previous anticancer therapy, such as: * Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy * Fatigue * Residual toxicities from prior immuno-oncology (IO) treatment: grade 1 or grade 2 endocrinopathies which may include: hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism, type 1 diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, adrenal insufficiency, adrenalitis, skin hypopigmentation (vitiligo)
    • For ADC1 cohorts and ADC2 T-DXd cohorts, baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% prior to registration, as measured by echocardiogram (or multiple-gated acquisition [MUGA] scan if an echocardiogram cannot be performed or is inconclusive). The acceptable screening window for LVEF evaluation will be within 28 days before day 1 of study treatment
    • Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to study treatment initiation * Childbearing potential is defined as participants who have not reached a postmenopausal state (≥ 12 continuous months of amenorrhea with no identified cause other than menopause) and have not undergone surgical sterilization (removal of ovaries and/or uterus)
    • Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) and the female partners of male participants must agree to use an adequate method of contraception. Contraception is required starting with the first dose of study medication through 7 months after the last dose of study medication. Starting at the time of screening, female subjects/participants must not donate or retrieve for their own use ova at any time during this study and for at least 7 months after the last dose of study treatment. Preservation of ova should be considered prior to enrollment in this study
    • Males who are sexually active with WOCBP must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of study treatment and 4 months after the last dose of study treatment. Starting at the time of screening, male subjects/participants must not freeze or donate sperm at any time during this study and for at least 4 months after the last dose of study treatment. Preservation of sperm should be considered prior to enrollment in this study
    • Participant must be capable of understanding and complying with the protocol and willing to sign a written informed consent document
    • Participants who do not read and understand English are eligible to participate, and will be exempt from the patient-reported outcome questionnaires that are only available in English

    Exclusion Criteria

    • Concurrent use of any other investigational or study agents that are being used to treat the underlying malignancy
    • Any prior treatment (including ADC) containing a chemotherapeutic agent targeting topoisomerase I, except as specified for ADC2 cohorts
    • Receipt of live, attenuated vaccine (mRNA and replication deficient adenoviral vaccines are not considered attenuated live vaccines) within 30 days prior to the first exposure to study intervention. Note: Participants, if enrolled, should not receive live vaccine during the study and up to 30 days after the last dose of study intervention
    • Clinically significant corneal disease
    • History of severe hypersensitivity reactions to either trastuzumab deruxtecan or datopotamab deruxtecan or their inactive ingredients (including but not limited to polysorbate 80)
    • History of severe hypersensitivity reactions to other monoclonal antibodies
    • Major surgery within 2 weeks prior to study treatment initiation. Patients must have recovered from any effects of any major surgery
    • Uncontrolled, significant intercurrent or recent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, uncontrolled non-malignant systemic disease, uncontrolled seizures, or psychiatric illness/social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements in the opinion of the treating investigator
    • History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease, or where suspected interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis cannot be ruled out by imaging at screening. For ADC2 cohorts, if a participant experienced grade (G)1 pneumonitis/ILD with ADC1 (e.g., treated with steroids) with complete resolution of radiographic findings and ability to resume ADC1 within 12 weeks of the scheduled interruption without recurrence of ILD, the participant may enroll to ADC2
    • Lung-specific intercurrent clinically significant illnesses including, but not limited to, any underlying pulmonary disorder (i.e., pulmonary emboli within 3 months of the study enrollment, severe asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), restrictive lung disease, pleural effusion etc.), and any autoimmune, connective tissue or inflammatory disorders with pulmonary involvement (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, sarcoidosis etc.), and prior complete pneumonectomy
    • Corrected QT interval (Fridericia’s formula–corrected QT interval [QTcF]) prolongation to > 470 msec (females) or > 450 msec (males) based on the screening 12-lead ECG
    • Any of the following procedures or conditions in 6 months prior to enrollment: coronary artery bypass graft, angioplasty, vascular stent, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Functional Classification grade ≥ 2), and stroke
    • Individuals with a history of a second malignancy are ineligible except for the following circumstances: * Individuals with a history of other malignancies are eligible if they have been disease-free for at least 3 years or are deemed by the investigator to be at low risk for recurrence of that malignancy * Individuals with the following cancers that have been diagnosed and treated within the past 3 years are eligible: cervical/prostate carcinoma in situ, superficial bladder cancer, non-melanoma cancer of the skin * Patients with other cancers diagnosed within the past 3 years and felt to be at low risk of recurrence should be discussed with the study principal investigator to determine eligibility
    • Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection that is not well controlled. All the following criteria are required to define an HIV infection that is well controlled: undetectable viral ribonucleic acid (RNA), CD4+ count ≥ 350, no history of AIDS-defining opportunistic infection within the past 12 months, and stable for at least 4 weeks on the same anti-HIV medications (meaning there are no expected further changes in that time to the number or type of antiretroviral drugs in the regimen). If an HIV infection meets the above criteria, monitoring of viral RNA load and CD4+ count is recommended
    • Has known hepatitis B or C virus infection that is active or uncontrolled. Subjects/participants are eligible if they: * Have been curatively treated for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as demonstrated clinically and by polymerase chain reaction negative for HCV RNA * Have received hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination with only anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (HBs) positivity and no clinical signs of hepatitis * Are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg-) and anti-hepatitis B core antibody (HBc+) (i.e., those who have cleared HBV after infection) and meet conditions 1-6 below: * Are HBsAg+ with chronic HBV infection (lasting 6 months or longer) and meet conditions 1-7 below: ** HBV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) viral load < 2000 IU/mL ** Liver architecture normal (absence of any liver pathology including absence of cirrhosis or fibrosis on prior imaging or biopsy) ** Have normal transaminase values, or, if liver metastases are present, abnormal transaminases, with a result of AST/ALT < 3 x ULN, which are not attributable to HBV infection ** Start or maintain antiviral treatment if clinically indicated as per the investigator ** Absence of HCV co-infection or history of HCV co-infection ** Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)- ** Access to a local hepatitis B expert during and after the study. Participants should be closely monitored for HBV reactivation
    • Active infection, including tuberculosis (clinical evaluation that includes clinical history, physical examination and radiographic findings, and tuberculosis testing in line with local practice)
    • History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the subject’s participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator
    • Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant

    Principal Investigator

    Sub-Investigators

    For more information about this study, including how to volunteer, contact: