Phase 2 Anastrozole and Vandetanib (ZD6474) in Neoadjuvant Treatment of Postmenopausal Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer
Phase 2 Anastrozole and Vandetanib (ZD6474) in Neoadjuvant Treatment of Postmenopausal Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer
In this study we plan to study the combination of ZD6474, a dual inhibitor of EGFR and
 VEGFR-2 with anastrozole in the neoadjuvant setting for patients with Stage I-III breast
 cancer. The aim is to overcome mechanisms of resistance and simultaneously block multiple
 critical signaling pathways known to stimulate breast cancer.
The use of adjuvant chemotherapy and endocrine therapy has had a significant impact on breast
 cancer survival. However, not all patients will benefit from each of these therapies.
 Increasing data suggests that patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer derive
 marginal benefit from the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy. Identification and
 characterization of cellular signaling pathways active in the pathogenesis of breast cancer
 has lead to the development of multiple targeted therapies that hold enormous promise for
 patients with less toxicity than conventional chemotherapy. Treatment strategies employing
 neoadjuvant therapy have found that pCR is predictive for ultimate outcome. Due to this, the
 use of neoadjuvant therapy has become an intense area of investigation in operable breast
 cancer. In the IMPACT trial, the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole was found to improve
 eligibility for breast conservation and was associated with a favorable clinical objective
 response after 12 weeks of therapy.

 In this proposed study, we plan to study the combination of ZD6474, a dual inhibitor of EGFR
 and VEGFR-2, with anastrozole in the neoadjuvant setting for patients with Stage I-III breast
 cancer. The aim is to overcome mechanisms of resistance and simultaneously block multiple
 critical signaling pathways known to stimulate breast cancer. The two agents have
 non-overlapping toxicities and are both administered orally, allowing for a more tolerable
 treatment regimen. By using this combination in the neoadjuvant setting, we will target the
 critical signaling pathways early and follow tumor responses during therapy, allowing for
 prompt evaluation of the effectiveness of this treatment strategy. Pathologic tumor specimens
 obtained at the time of definitive surgery will be evaluated for pathologic complete response
 thus adding to the body of literature. By examining molecular markers such as ER, PR, EGFR,
 and Ki-67 pre- and post-treatment, we hope to correlate modulations in these biomarkers to
 response. Finally, using a novel second generation functional breast MRI we will investigate
 the ability of MRI to predict response to antiangiogenic therapy.
Inclusion Criteria:

 Histologically confirmed invasive, hormone receptor-positive (ER and/or PR positive) breast
 cancer

 -  Stage I-III breast cancer including any primary tumor ≥ 1 cm by ultrasound

 -  Diagnosis by core needle biopsy with placement of metallic clip at tumor site

 -  Sentinel lymph node biopsy (US-guided FNA may be substituted if palpable axillary
 lymphadenopathy)

 -  Evaluation by a surgeon to determine eligibility for breast conservation

 -  Postmenopausal status (age ≥ 60 yo; or < 60 yo and FSH and estradiol in the
 postmenopausal range, prior bilateral oophorectomy)

 -  Serum creatinine < 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or creatinine clearance > 50
 mL/minute (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault formula.)

 -  Serum bilirubin < 1.5 x ULN

 -  Serum potassium ≥ 4 mmol/L (supplementation allowed)

 -  Serum calcium or magnesium within normal range (supplementation allowed)

 -  Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 x ULN or
 alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤ 2.5 x ULN

 -  ECOG Performance Status 0,1,2

 -  ECG QTc < 480 msec

 -  Measurable disease

 -  Written, informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:- Inflammatory breast cancer

 -  Metastatic breast cancer excluding disease in regional lymph nodes

 -  Inoperable disease considered irreversible with neoadjuvant endocrine therapy

 -  HER2-overexpressed breast cancer

 -  Prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for the treatment of the current breast cancer

 -  Prior hormonal therapy for the treatment of the current breast cancer

 -  Prior surgical biopsy, lumpectomy, mastectomy for the current breast cancer

 -  Any concurrent condition which in the Investigator's opinion makes it inappropriate
 for the patient to participate in the trial or which would jeopardize compliance with
 the protocol

 -  Currently active diarrhea that may affect the ability of the patient to absorb ZD6474
 or tolerate diarrhea

 -  Clinically significant cardiac event such as myocardial infarction; New York Heart
 Association (NYHA) classification of heart disease >2 within 3 months before entry; or
 presence of cardiac disease that, in the opinion of the Investigator, increases the
 risk of ventricular arrhythmia.

 -  History of arrhythmia (multifocal premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), bigeminy,
 trigeminy, ventricular tachycardia (VT) or uncontrolled atrial fibrillation) which is
 symptomatic or requires treatment (CTCAE grade 3) or asymptomatic sustained VT. Atrial
 fibrillation controlled on medication is not excluded.

 -  Previous history of QTc prolongation as a result of another medication that required
 discontinuation of that medication.

 -  Congenital long QT syndrome or 1st degree relative with unexplained sudden death < 40
 years of age.

 -  Presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB).

 -  QTc with Bazett's correction that is unmeasurable, or ≥ 480 msec on screening ECG. If
 a patient has QTc ≥ 480 msec on screening ECG, the screen ECG may be repeated twice
 (at least 24 hours apart). The average QTc from the three screening ECGs must be < 480
 msec in order for the patient to be eligible for the study.

 -  Use of any concomitant medication that may cause QTc prolongation, induce Torsades de
 Pointes or induce CYP3A4 function.

 -  Hypertension not controlled by medical therapy (systolic blood pressure greater than
 160 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure greater than 100 mm hg).

 -  Previous or current malignancies of other histologies within the last 5 years, with
 the exception of cervical carcinoma in situ and adequately treated basal cell or
 squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

 -  Major surgery within 4 weeks or incompletely healed surgical incision before starting
 study therapy.

 -  Receipt of any investigational agents within 30 days prior to commencing study
 treatment

 -  Previous enrollment or randomization of treatment in the present study