Durvalumab Combination Therapy for Breast Cancer
(BEGONIA Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial tests the effectiveness and safety of durvalumab (an immunotherapy) combined with other cancer treatments for advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). It examines various combinations, including durvalumab with paclitaxel (a chemotherapy drug), and some new treatments, to determine which are most effective. The trial targets women with TNBC that has either spread or cannot be surgically removed, and who have not yet received treatment for their metastatic cancer. Participants must have at least one measurable tumor that has not been treated with radiation. As a Phase 1, Phase 2 trial, it aims to understand how the treatment works in people and measures its effectiveness in an initial, smaller group.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial protocol does not specify if you must stop taking your current medications, but if you are in Arm 2, you cannot take certain medications that affect liver enzymes (CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2D6) within 2 weeks before starting the study. Also, if you are in Arm 6, 7, or 8, you cannot use chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine within 14 days before starting treatment.
Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?
Research shows that durvalumab, often used with other drugs, is generally safe. For instance, when combined with datopotamab deruxtecan, it achieved a high success rate in treating patients with triple-negative breast cancer, and no major safety issues emerged. Durvalumab with paclitaxel has also undergone extensive study. Some patients experienced serious side effects like a low white blood cell count, but these were manageable.
Adding capivasertib to durvalumab and paclitaxel also appears well-tolerated. Previous studies on this combination did not find significant safety concerns. For the combination of durvalumab, paclitaxel, and oleclumab, safety monitoring confirmed it is generally safe.
Lastly, durvalumab with trastuzumab deruxtecan mostly causes mild to moderate side effects, with many patients experiencing only mild reactions. These findings suggest that the treatments tested in this trial are generally well-tolerated, based on previous research.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?
Researchers are excited about these treatments because they combine durvalumab, an immunotherapy drug, with other agents like paclitaxel, datopotomab deruxtecan, and others, to potentially enhance their effectiveness against breast cancer. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, durvalumab works by unleashing the immune system to target cancer cells more effectively. For example, adding datopotomab deruxtecan combines an antibody-drug conjugate that delivers chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, potentially reducing side effects and improving outcomes. Additionally, these combinations explore new pathways, like inhibiting PD-L1, which might help in treating breast cancer more efficiently than existing treatments. This innovative approach could offer new hope for patients, especially those with PD-L1 positive status.
What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for metastatic triple negative breast cancer?
Research has shown that combining durvalumab with datopotamab deruxtecan, one of the treatment arms in this trial, may effectively treat triple-negative breast cancer. In one study, 79% of patients experienced tumor shrinkage, indicating a strong response. Another arm in this trial involves the combination of durvalumab and paclitaxel, where studies found that 44% of patients showed no signs of cancer after treatment. Although less information exists on the combinations of durvalumab with capivasertib and oleclumab, these are also being tested in separate arms of this trial for their potential benefits. Lastly, the combination of trastuzumab deruxtecan with durvalumab, another arm in this trial, delayed cancer progression for an average of 15 months. Each of these combinations offers hope for improving treatment against this challenging type of breast cancer.14678
Who Is on the Research Team?
Peter Schmid, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
Barts Cancer Institute
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adult women with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) who haven't had treatment for stage IV TNBC. They must have a measurable lesion, be in good physical condition (WHO/ECOG 0 or 1), and meet specific criteria based on their tumor's characteristics like HER2 low expression or PD-L1 positivity, depending on the study arm they're eligible for.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive durvalumab in combination with novel oncology therapies with or without paclitaxel for first-line treatment
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
Long-term follow-up
Participants are monitored for progression-free survival and overall survival
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Durvalumab
- Paclitaxel
Durvalumab is already approved in European Union, United States, Japan for the following indications:
- Locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC)
- Limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC)
- Locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma
- Not specified in provided sources
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
AstraZeneca
Lead Sponsor
Sir Pascal Soriot
AstraZeneca
Chief Executive Officer since 2012
Veterinary Medicine from École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, MBA from HEC Paris
Dr. Cristian Massacesi
AstraZeneca
Chief Medical Officer since 2021
MD from Marche Polytechnic University, Oncology training at Royal Marsden Hospital, Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and European Institute of Oncology
Pascal Soriot
AstraZeneca
Chief Executive Officer since 2012
Veterinary Medicine from École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, MBA from HEC Paris
Cristian Massacesi
AstraZeneca
Chief Medical Officer since 2021
MD from Marche Polytechnic University, Medical Oncology training at Royal Marsden Hospital, Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and European Institute of Oncology