Pertuzumab retreatment for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer: A randomized, open-label phase III study (PRECIOUS)

No standard options existed for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive advanced breast cancer that progresses after second-line trastuzumab emtansine therapy before 2020. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of pertuzumab retreatment after disease progression following pertuzumab-containing therapy for HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer for the first time. This randomized, open-label, multicenter phase III trial was undertaken in 93 sites in Japan. Eligible patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who had received pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and chemotherapy as first- and/or second-line therapy were randomly assigned (1:1) to: (i) pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and physician's choice chemotherapy (PTC), or (ii) trastuzumab and physician's choice chemotherapy (TC). The primary end-point was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Between August 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018, 219 patients were randomized to PTC (n = 110) or TC (n = 109). Median follow-up was 14.2 months (interquartile range, 9.0–22.2), and median PFS was 5.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.0–6.6) with PTC and 4.2 months (95% CI, 3.2–4.8) with TC (stratified hazard ratio 0.76 [95% CI upper limit 0.967]; p = 0.022). Progression-free survival was improved by adding pertuzumab in all prespecified subgroups. The PTC arm showed a trend towards better overall survival and duration of response, but similar objective response and health-related quality of life. The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was similar between groups except for diarrhea. Pertuzumab retreatment contributes to disease control for HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with pertuzumab-containing regimens.