The oral mTOR inhibitor RAD001 (everolimus) in combination with letrozole in patients with advanced breast cancer: results of a phase I study with pharmacokinetics.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of combined treatment with letrozole and the oral mTOR inhibitor RAD001 in patients with metastatic breast cancer stable or progressing after > or = 4 months on letrozole alone.


METHODS
Eighteen patients received letrozole (2.5 mg/day) and RAD001 at 5 mg/day (cohort 1) or 10 mg/day (cohort 2). In the absence of DLT in cohort 1, cohort 2 was expanded to 12 patients to obtain additional safety and PK data.


RESULTS
Most common adverse events were stomatitis (50.0% of patients), fatigue (44.4%), anorexia and/or decreased appetite (44.4%), diarrhoea (38.9%), headache (33.3%) and rash (33.3%). There was 1 DLT, a grade 3 thrombocytopaenia in cohort 2. No clinically relevant PK interaction was detected. Seven patients received the combination therapy for >6 months. One patient had a complete response, and one had a 28% reduction in liver metastases, both in cohort 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily therapy with RAD001 plus letrozole is promising: the results suggest anti-tumour activity with no PK interactions. The overall safety profile of the combination is consistent with that expected for RAD001 monotherapy. A daily dose of RAD001 10mg is recommended for further trials.
Medical Oncology Clinic, Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium. ahmad.awada@bordet.be
Ahmad
A
Awada
Fatima
F
Cardoso
Christel
C
Fontaine
Luc
L
Dirix
Jacques
J
De Grève
Christos
C
Sotiriou
Jutta
J
Steinseifer
Carine
C
Wouters
Chiaki
C
Tanaka
Ulrike
U
Zoellner
Pui
P
Tang
Martine
M
Piccart
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000068338:Everolimus; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000077289:Letrozole; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077289:Letrozole; D000068338:Everolimus; D020123:Sirolimus