Real-World Outcomes of Everolimus and Exemestane for the Treatment of Metastatic Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer in Patients Previously Treated With CDK4/6 Inhibitors

This retrospective study (n = 192 patients) identified that patients who received everolimus + exemestane with prior CDK4/6 inhibitor use had a significantly decreased progression free survival of 3.8 months vs. 5.4 months compared to those who did not use prior CDK4/6 inhibitors. It is reasonable to use this combination after CDK4/6 inhibitors in selected patients, recognizing that additional benefit is modest. Purpose: Everolimus with exemestane (EVE+EXE) was FDA-approved to treat metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (mHRBC) based on BOLERO-2. However, none of those patients received prior CDK4/6 inhibitors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of EVE+EXE in mHRBC after CDK4/6 inhibitors. Methods: A retrospective review of patients >= 18 years old with mHRBC treated with EVE+EXE, for >= 30 days, at our institution from January 1, 2012, to April 1, 2020 was conducted. Primary objective was to compare progression free survival (PFS) for EVE+EXE between patients with and without prior exposure to CDK4/6 inhibitors. Secondary outcomes included overall survival and safety. Results: 192 patients were included in the study (n = 79, prior CDK4/6 inhibitor use; n = 113, no prior CDK4/6 inhibitor use). Baseline patient characteristics were similar between groups. Greater number of prior therapies before EVE+EXE use increased risk of disease progression (P = .017). Patients with prior CDK4/6 inhibitor use had a lower median PFS of 3.8 months (95% CI: 3.4-4.7) vs. 5.4 months (95% CI: 3.9-6.2) for patients without prior CDK4/6 inhibitor use, with a HR for progression of 1.46 (95% CI: 1.08 to 1.97, P = .013). Overall survival between groups was not significantly different. Conclusion: Patients who received a prior CDK4/6 inhibitor had a lower median PFS benefit from EVE+EXE compared to those who did not, without differences in overall survival. Although PFS is expected to decrease with subsequent lines of therapy, it is reasonable to use EVE+EXE after CDK4/6 inhibitors in selected patients, recognizing that additional benefit is modest. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This retrospective study found that patients who received everolimus + exemestane with prior CDK4/6 inhibitor use had a significantly decreased progression free survival. It is reasonable to use this combination after CDK4/6 inhibitors in selected patients.