Safety and tolerability of lapatinib in combination with taxanes (T) in patients with breast cancer (BC)
1027 Background: Lapatinib (L) is an oral, dual ErbB1/B2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor. T are mainstay of BC treatment. The side-effects seen with T in combination with gefitinib and erlotinib include neutropenia, diarrhea and rash. Based on preclinical synergy, early clinical studies with L and paclitaxel (P) or docetaxel (D) were studied. Methods: We summarize pharmacokinetics (PK) and preliminary safety data from 192 patients. Results: PK analysis for EGF10009 (q3w), show systemic exposure was increased for both L (21%) and P (23%) at doses of 1500mg daily and 175mg/m2/q3w, respectively. PK analysis in EGF10021 , (L 1250 mg & D 75 mg/m2 with prophylactic pegfilgrastim) indicated no significant effect on systemic exposure of either agent. Toxicities across all studies include i.e., for all patients = grade 3, neutropenia (7.3%), diarrhea (18.2%), rash (3.6%). The rate of adverse events for neutropenia and rash were similar to each agent alone, however diarrhea was more common. The frequency and severity of diarrhea was increased in studies EGF10009 and EGF102580 where no proactive treatment of diarrhea was introduced, whereas in EGF105764, with proactive treatment, currently no =grade 3 diarrhea has been reported. The data show that the combination of L and P has clinical activity (>70% RR reported in EGF102580). Conclusions: T plus L combinations have a predictable and manageable safety profile and clinical activity of P plus L combination was observed. Proactive diarrhea management is essential for these combinations. Based on the PK data, no dose adjustments are required, and any dose adjustments should be toxicity-based. Ongoing clinical studies investigating the combinations of L with T, and combinations of L with T plus trastuzumab will be reported in the future. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.