Response-guided neoadjuvant sacituzumab govitecan for localized triple-negative breast cancer: results from the NeoSTAR trial

Background: Sacituzumab govitecan (SG), a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting TROP2, is approved for pre-treated metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). We conducted an investigator-initiated clinical trial evaluating neoadjuvant (NA) SG (NCT04230109), and report primary results.

Patients and methods: Participants with early-stage TNBC received NA SG for four cycles. The primary objective was to assess pathological complete response (pCR) rate in breast and lymph nodes (ypT0/isN0) to SG. Secondary objectives included overall response rate (ORR), safety, event-free survival (EFS), and predictive biomarkers. A response-guided approach was utilized, and subsequent systemic therapy decisions were at the discretion of the treating physician.

Results: From July 2020 to August 2021, 50 participants were enrolled (median age = 48.5 years; 13 clinical stage I disease, 26 stage II, 11 stage III). Forty-nine (98%) completed four cycles of SG. Overall, the pCR rate with SG alone was 30% [n = 15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 18% to 45%]. The ORR per RECIST V1.1 after SG alone was 64% (n = 32/50, 95% CI 77% to 98%). Higher Ki-67 and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were predictive of pCR to SG (P = 0.007 for Ki-67 and 0.002 for TILs), while baseline TROP2 expression was not (P = 0.440). Common adverse events were nausea (82%), fatigue (76%), alopecia (76%), neutropenia (44%), and rash (48%). With a median follow-up time of 18.9 months (95% CI 16.3-21.9 months), the 2-year EFS for all participants was 95%. Among participants with a pCR with SG (n = 15), the 2-year EFS was 100%.

Conclusions: In the first NA trial with an ADC in localized TNBC, SG demonstrated single-agent efficacy and feasibility of response-guided escalation/de-escalation. Further research on optimal duration of SG as well as NA combination strategies, including immunotherapy, are needed.