Trastuzumab in Combination With Vinorelbine or Taxane-Based Chemotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title: A Randomized Phase III Study of Trastuzumab (Herceptin) in Combination With Either Vinorelbine (Navelbine), or Taxane-based Chemotherapy in Patients With HER2 Overexpressing Metastatic Breast Cancer

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare two different combinations of chemotherapy with trastuzumab as initial treatment for HER2 positive advanced breast cancer. Half of the patients will receive trastuzumab in combination with a taxane form of chemotherapy (either paclitaxel or docetaxel), while the other group will receive trastuzumab in combination with vinorelbine.

Clinical Trial Description

• All patients will receive trastuzumab then be randomized into one of two arms. Arm A:

Trastuzumab in combination with weekly vinorelbine and Arm B: Trastuzumab in combination with a weekly taxane-based regimen, either paclitaxel or docetaxel, chosen at the discretion of the investigator.

• Treatment is administered on an outpatient basis. Trastuzumab is administered weekly. There is a one-time loading dose for the first week of the first cycle. For that initial treatment, only, the trastuzumab dose is 4mg/kg. The dose for all subsequent weekly trastuzumab treatments is 2mg/kg.

• Arm A: vinorelbine is administered every week and the dose is adjusted based on the absolute neutrophil count for that week. Vinorelbine is given after trastuzumab.

• Arm B: Either paclitaxel given weekly (dose bases on absolute neutrophil count) or docetaxel given on weeks 1,2,3,5,6,7 of each 8-week cycle (dose based upon absolute neutrophil count). Patients on paclitaxel will also receive dexamethasone, diphenhydramine and ranitidine to help prevent allergic or hypersensitivity reactions. Patients on docetaxel will receive dexamethasone to help reduce fluid retention or edema.

• Every 8 weeks the patients cancer will be re-evaluated to see if the treatment is working. If the treatment appears to be working, treatment will continue. Standard radiological testing (x-rays, CT scan, radioactive drug scans, or MRI's) will be used to follow the disease treatment.

• Heart function will be measured after 16 weeks to be sure it is safe to continue treatment.

• Every 8 weeks, patients' will be asked to complete a brief written survey that asks about symptoms and side effects.

• Patients' will remain on the treatment as long as there is no disease progression or unacceptable side effects. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Breast Cancer
• Breast Neoplasms
• Stage IV Breast Cancer

• NCT number: NCT00146549
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 3
• Start date: August 2001
• Completion date: December 2007