Quality-of-life assessment in the randomized JBCRG-M06/EMERALD study of eribulin plus dual HER2 blockade in HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND

Although taxanes are a mainstay treatment for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (LABC/MBC), they often impair quality of life (QoL). Treatments that avoid taxane-related QoL deteriorations would be valuable.

METHODS

The JBCRG-M06/EMERALD trial (NCT03264547, UMIN000027938) compared eribulin with a taxane, each combined with trastuzumab and pertuzumab, in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-positive LABC/MBC. QoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Module C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) version 3.0. QoL deterioration was defined as a decrease in the Global Health Status (GHS) score by ≥ 10 points (minimum clinically important difference), disease progression, or death.

RESULTS

QoL data were available for 210 (of 224 randomized) and 205 (of 222 randomized) patients in the eribulin and taxane groups, respectively. The median (95% confidence interval) time to QoL deterioration was 7.16 (6.28-8.34) months in the eribulin group versus 4.57 (4.17-6.14) months in the taxane group, with a hazard ratio of 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.65-0.98; log-rank P = 0.08). QoL was maintained at 6 and 12 months in greater proportions of the eribulin group (62.7% and 30.5%) compared with the taxane group (43.5% and 25.5%). GHS scores remained stable over time in the eribulin group. GHS deteriorated between weeks 9 and 27 in the taxane group (i.e. during treatment) with subsequent recovery toward baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Eribulin could help avoid the early deteriorations in QoL that occur during taxane therapy and maintain QoL for longer in patents with HER2-positive LABC/MBC receiving trastuzumab and pertuzumab.