The possibility of lapatinib treatment for breast cancer patients with central nervous system metastases.
Case study and literature review

Introduction

Lapatinib is a low-molecular tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, highly bound to ErbB/HER-1 and ErbB-2/HER-2 receptors of epidermal growth factor [1]. Both Her-1 and Her-2 undergo overexpression in the case of various neoplasms, including breast cancer, which represents a significant point of escape from targeted therapies. The application of trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeted against the extracellular domain of the receptor, involves several difficulties. There is a possibility of the occurrence of downregulation of isoforms on surface receptors. In the process of receptor dimerization, occurring after the ligand’s association with a receptor of the EGFR family, not only homodimers, but also heterodimers are formed. That is why inhibitors inhibiting selectively one tyrosine kinase at a time may not be effective in inhibiting both ErbB-1 and ErbB-2 heterodimers. Short form variants of Her-1 and Her-2, which lack extracellular domains, may occur [2, 3]. Therefore, lapatinib potentially appears to be a more effective medicine inhibiting the transfer of signals in a cell than trastuzumab, which inhibits only the extracellular activity of the Her2 receptor domain.

An interesting therapeutic field for applying lapatinib is treating brain metastases. Spread into the CNS is observed in 2.5% of patients whose breast cancer was diagnosed in the localized stage of disease, 7.6% in the case of a disease with regional metastases and 13.4% in the case of patients with initially observed spread of the disease [4–6].

In the late 1990s, soon after the introduction of trastuzumab for the treatment of patients with overexpression of the HER2+ receptor, more frequent occurrence of spread to the CNS was noted against the historical estimations [5–8].

In recent years, a retrospective analysis of 9524 patients with breast cancer participating in studies with complementary treatment conducted by the International Breast Cancer Study Group was performed. These studies were conducted before trastuzumab was introduced for complementary treatment. The studies showed that overexpression of HER2 is a risk factor for spread to the CNS. Within 10 years metastases to the CNS occurred in 6.8% of patients with HER2 overexpression in contrast to 3.5% (p < 0.01) in patients without such expression [9].

It is believed that the cause of this phenomenon may be a low capability of trastuzumab to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Because including trastuzumab for the treatment of patients with breast cancer with HER2 overexpression prolonged the life expectancy of this group of patients, it led to clinical exposure of the metastases to the CNS, which would not have manifested any symptoms in case of the patient’s death [8, 10].

In multivariate analysis, factors increasing the risk of the spread of breast cancer into the CNS is the young age of patients, lack of expression of hormonal receptors and diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma [11].

While observing this phenomenon, a possibility of curing metastatic pathological changes in the CNS with medicines targeted against the ErB-2 receptor, penetrating the blood-brain barrier, was seen. One of the candidates for this kind of therapy is lapatinib. This conception was supported by the results of the EGF 100151 test, proving that brain metastases occurred as the first symptom of progression less frequently in the group treated with lapatinib and capecitabine than with only capecitabine – respectively 4% vs. 6%, p = 0.045 [12].

Among brain metastases resected in 123 patients in 36% of cases expression of ErB-2 receptor was diagnosed, which is substantially more in comparison to the expression of this receptor in initial breast cancer [13].

Below a case study of a patient is presented. The patient suffered from breast cancer with overexpression of the Her2 receptor. After the trastuzumab treatment the spread of cancer occurred, among others to the CNS. The patient was successfully treated with capecitabine and lapatinib.

Case description

The patient, aged 52, noticed a tumor in the left breast in November 2003. Mammography revealed a tumor in the upper outer quadrant, 5 × 4 cm, with features of a malignant change. Enlarged lymphatic glands in the left armpit. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the left breast and the enlarged lymphatic glands in the left armpit was performed, revealing the presence of cancer cells. Breast cancer, classified T3N1M0 (IIIA), was diagnosed. Clinically, at the moment of the commencement of treatment, the tumor diameter measured 7x8 cm, left armpit lymph node diameter 3.5 × 3.5 cm. Considering the local advancement the patient was qualified for adjuvant chemotherapy. She received 4 cycles of treatment in the AT regimen (docetaxel 75 mg/m², doxorubicin 50 mg/m²). Partial remission was obtained. In April 2004 left side Patey mastectomy was performed. Invasive ductal carcinoma was histologically diagnosed, Bloom III. Out of 13 removed lymph nodes, in one metastasis with infiltration of the lymph node capsule was found. Hormone receptors negative. In 100% of cells strong (+++) reaction to the presence of fiber c-erbB2/Her-2 was identified. After the surgery the patient received 4 series of supplementary chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide – 600 mg/m² day 1 and 8; 5-fluorouracil – 1000 mg/m² day 1 and 8; methotrexate – 40 mg/m² day 1 and 8). Supplementary radiotherapy of the post-surgical scar and peripheral lymph nodes was applied (4500 cGy in 20 fractions).

In May 2007 in computed tomography of the abdominal cavity a tumor in the left kidney was identified. In July 2007, left-sided nephrectomy was performed, diagnosing bright cell kidney cancer of T1bN0M0 clinical stage.

In the computed tomography performed in December 2007, sites of metastases were found in the liver, the biggest of them with a diameter of 21 mm. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of breast cancer metastasis. In a radiological test lung metastases were identified. The patient was qualified for trastuzumab treatment (the first dose was 4 mg/kg, the next 2 mg/m²) and vinorelbine at a dose of 30 mg/m² every 7 days. The treatment was continued from January to June 2008, achieving stabilization. In a control computed tomography test, when the progression of changes in lungs and liver was identified, AT chemotherapy, which had been successfully used in the preoperational treatment, was resumed. Five cycles of chemotherapy were applied, achieving partial remission and subsequently, due to the cumulative dosage limit of doxorubicin, the treatment was continued with docetaxel. After the first cycle of chemotherapy, due to the occurrence of head pains in December 2008, a computed tomography test was performed, which identified numerous metastases. Palliative brain radiotherapy (20 cGy in 5 fractions) was performed.

In January 2009, lapatinib treatment was commenced at a dose of 1250 mg/day and capecitabine at a dose of 2000 mg/m² for 14 days every 3 weeks. The treatment was continued until June 2010. The treatment was disturbed by hand-foot syndrome of grade 2 on the NCI 2,0 scale, nausea, a first degree increase in transaminase levels and first degree diarrhea. No hematological or cardiac complications were observed. In control imaging tests stabilization of the metastases in the liver, lungs and the central nervous system was observed. In July, the patient was diagnosed with balance disorder and symptoms of left-sided hemiparesis. In brain computed tomography the progression of changes in the form of numerous metastatic changes with a diameter of 12–14 mm in the area of the temporal lobes, both cerebellar hemispheres and left-sided parietal region was observed. Palliative brain radiotherapy was performed again at a dose of 2000 cGy in 5 fractions. No clinical improvement was achieved. The patient died experiencing symptoms of intracranial hypertension.

Overview

By the use of lapatinib with capecitabine in a 52-year-old patient, long lasting (17 months) stability of the cancer process was achieved, including brain metastasis focal points. The result should be considered as very good, considering the fact that the average survival in patients of this group is 3 to 6 months [14].

The effectiveness of lapatinib in treating brain metastases was proved by inter-SPORE phase II trial testing. It was carried out on 39 patients, in whom metastases to the CNS occurred after the treatment with trastuzumab. 38 of the patients received previous radiotherapy. In the case of 1 patient partial regression was achieved according to the RECIST criteria, whereas in 7 (18%) patients stabilization of the cancer process lasting longer than 16 weeks was achieved. In the case of 3 patients the volume of metastatic changes decreased by 30%, in the case of 7 patients by 10–30% [15]. The above data, although of initial character, depict that lapatinib is able to penetrate into the central nervous system and be effective in treating brain metastases.

What is more, the analysis of the registration examination of the medicine (EFG 100151) showed that lapatinib with capecitabine significantly lessens the risk of brain metastases compared to capecitabine monotherapy (6% vs. 2%, p = 0.045) [16].

In 2009, the results of a phase II study, evaluating the efficiency of lapatinib in patients with brain metastases, previously treated with trastuzumab, in whom the progression of brain changes after palliative radiotherapy was identified, were published [17]. In the case of some patients with progression during the lapatinib treatment capecitabine was added. Objective remission in the group treated with lapatinib was observed in 6% of patients. In 21% of cases a decrease of the volume of metastatic changes by  20% was observed. Better results were achieved in patients receiving lapatinib and capecitabine:  20% of objective remission and reduction of the volume of metastatic changes by  20% in 40% of patients. This may be caused by the activity of capecitabine in treating CNS metastases, previously described casuistically [18]. Additionally, earlier tests indicated certain effectiveness of capecitabine in treating brain metastases [19, 20].

In a study published by Ekenel et al., out of 7 patients receiving capecitabine, in 3 total remission of brain metastases was identified, whereas in 3 others stabilization occurred [20]. In Bartsch’s tests clinical benefit was achieved in half of the patients with brain metastases receiving capecitabine and trastuzumab [22]. Apart from capecitabine, lapatinib may also be combined with other cytostatics penetrating the blood-brain barrier, for example temozolomide [23].

In the extended phase of the abovementioned Lin test, remission was achieved also in 20% of patients, in whom at the moment of progression of CNS metastases during the lapatinib treatment capecitabine was added [17]. It cannot be excluded that it is a result of the additive effect of both medicines, especially considering the fact that lapatinib in monotherapy does not cause many remissions in patients with advanced breast cancer. It was also observed that lapatinib with capecitabine causes remission of CNS metastases in patients previously treated with capecitabine [24].

In 2010, Suterland et al. published results of the treatment of 356 patients receiving lapatinib with capecitabine in the UK [25]. In a group of 34 patients with CNS metastases, a 21% objective remission rate was achieved, usually accompanied by improvements of the neurological state. The median time until progression was 22 weeks. All of these observations indicate a possibility of using lapatinib in patients with brain metastases, especially those resistant to radiotherapy, because apart from treatment lowering intracranial hypertension there are no other effective options of treatment available.

Interesting results were also achieved using lapatinib with capecitabine in patients with breast cancer with HER2 expression and with brain metastases previously not radiated. The aim of the study, apart from evaluating the effectiveness and toxicity of treatment, was also the evaluation of the possibility of avoiding or postponing radiotherapy. In a group of 43 evaluated patients, objective remission of CNS metastases, defined as at least 50% decrease in the volume of pathological changes, was observed in 67% of patients. The median time until progression was 5.5 months. This study indicates that in this group of patients this treatment can be an alternative to palliative CNS radiation [26].

Tolerance of the treatment should be evaluated as good. Side effects observed during the treatment were not severe and did not cause treatment interruption or the necessity to lower the dosage of the medications.

In conclusion, lapatinib treatment combined with capecitabine is an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option in patients suffering from breast cancer with expression of cerbB2/HER2 fiber and CNS metastases and failure after radiotherapy.

Lapatinib should also be tested in association with brain radiation, bearing in mind the results of preclinical studies indicating that it may work as a radiation sensitizer.



The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Address for correspondence



dr n. med. Janusz Rolski

Oddział Onkologii Klinicznej

Podkarpackie Centrum Onkologii w Rzeszowie

ul. Szopena 2

35-055 Rzeszów

e-mail: janusz_rolski@wp.pl



Submitted: 9.06.2011

Accepted: 26.01.2012