Dr. Carey Discusses the CALGB40502 Trial in TNBC

Lisa A. Carey, MD, professor, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the CALGB 40502/NCCTG N063H trial in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

In this trial, 799 patients were randomized to receive paclitaxel (n = 283), nab-paclitaxel (n = 271), or ixabepilone (n = 245), and most patients also received concurrent bevacizumab (Avastin; 98%). Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) was given at a higher-than-approved dose of 150 mg/m² weekly. Paclitaxel was administered at 90 mg/m² and ixabepilone was administered at 16 mg/m² weekly.

This phase III trial showed improvements in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival of nab-paclitaxel compared with standard paclitaxel for patients with metastatic TNBC. The median OS with nab-paclitaxel was 21.0 months compared with 15.3 months with standard paclitaxel, representing a 26% reduction in risk of death. The hazard ratio for the comparison was 0.74 (95% CI, 0.51-1.07).