Purpose The CLEOPATRA (Clinical Evaluation of Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab) study demonstrated superior progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival when pertuzumab was added to trastuzumab and docetaxel. Paclitaxel given once per week is effective and less toxic than docetaxel. We performed a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pertuzumab and trastuzumab with paclitaxel given once per week. Patients and Methods Patients with metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive breast cancer with zero to one prior therapy were enrolled. Treatment consisted of paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 once per week plus trastuzumab (8 mg/kg loading dose → 6 mg/kg) once every 3 weeks plus pertuzumab (840 mg loading dose → 420 mg) once every 3 weeks, all given intravenously. The primary end point was 6-month PFS assessed by Kaplan-Meier methods. Results From January 2011 to December 2013, we enrolled 69 patients: 51 (74%) and 18 (26%) treated in first- and second-line metastatic settings, respectively. At a median follow-up of 21 months (range, 3 to 38 months), 6-month PFS was 86% (95% CI, 75% to 92%). The median PFS was 19.5 months (95% CI, 14 to 26 months) overall. PFS was 24.2 months (95% CI, 14 months to not reached [NR]) and 16.4 months (95% CI, 8.5 months to NR) for those without and with prior treatment, respectively. At 1 year, Kaplan-Meier PFS was 70% (95% CI, 56% to 79%) overall, 71% (95% CI, 55% to 82%) for those without prior therapy, and 66% (95% CI, 40% to 83%) for those with prior therapy. Treatment was well-tolerated; there was no febrile neutropenia or symptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Conclusion Paclitaxel given once per week with trastuzumab and pertuzumab is highly active and well tolerated and seems to be an effective alternative to docetaxel-based combination therapy.

OBJECTIVE -Pharmacologic agents currently approved for use in children with type 2 diabetes (metformin and insulin) are less than optimal for some patients. We evaluated the use of a ketogenic, very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -We conducted a chart review of 20 children (mean age 14.5 Ϯ 0.4 years) who consumed a ketogenic VLCD in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Several response variables (BMI, blood pressure, HbA 1c , blood glucose, and treatment regimens) were examined before, during, and up to 2 years after the diet and compared with a matched diabetic control group.RESULTS -Before starting the diet, 11 of 20 patients were treated with insulin and 6 with metformin. Mean daily blood glucose values fell from 8.9 Ϯ 1.1 to 5.5 Ϯ 0.38 mmol/l (P Ͻ 0.0001) in the first 3 days of the VLCD, allowing insulin and oral agents to be discontinued in all but one subject. BMI fell from 43.5 Ϯ 1.8 to 39.3 Ϯ 1.8 kg/m 2 (P Ͻ 0.0001) and HbA 1c dropped from 8.8 Ϯ 0.6 to 7.4 Ϯ 0.6% (P Ͻ 0.005) as the diet was continued for a mean of 60 Ϯ 8 days (range 4 -130 days), and none required resumption of antidiabetic medications. Sustained decreases in BMI and insulin requirements were observed in patients remaining on the VLCD for at least 6 weeks when compared with those of the control group.CONCLUSIONS -The ketogenic VLCD is an effective short-term, and possibly long-term, therapy for pediatric patients with type 2 diabetes. Blood glucose control and BMI improve, allowing the discontinuation of exogenous insulin and other antidiabetic agents. This diet, although strict, has potential as an alternative to pharmacologic therapies for this emerging subset of diabetic individuals. Diabetes Care 27:348 -353, 2004T he prevalence of obesity in adolescence has increased dramatically within the past two decades, with at least 12% of adolescents defined as overweight (BMI above the 95th percentile for age and sex) (1). The U.S. National Diabetes Commission and the Nurse's Health Study have both found a direct relationship between weight gain and the risk for diabetes (2,3). Excessive weight among adolescents threatens to become a major public health problem, as the emergence of type 2 diabetes in this age-group has risen exponentially (4). A number of groups have reported a profound increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes among minority children in North America (5-9). Among African-American adolescents, this subset of diabetes is frequently associated with morbid obesity and hypertension (8,10). This condition is characterized by the absence of islet cell antibodies, normal to elevated fasting C-peptide levels, acanthosis nigricans, and a parental history of type 2 diabetes (11). At the time of presentation, many of the signs of type 1 diabetes (weight loss, polyuria, and polydipsia) may be lacking, while variable degrees of ketosis and even ketoacidosis are quite common (12). Obesity and puberty appear to combine with genetic predisposition to result in disease presentation (13...

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is an intracellular pathway activated in response to progrowth signaling, such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and other kinases. Abnormal activation of PI3K has long been recognized as one of the main oncogenic drivers in breast cancer, including HER2-positive (HER2+) subtype. Somatic activating mutations in the gene encoding PI3K alpha catalytic subunit ( PIK3CA) are present in approximately 30% of early-stage HER2+ tumors and drive therapeutic resistance to multiple HER2-targeted agents. Here, we review currently available agents targeting PI3K, discuss their potential role in HER2+ breast cancer, and provide an overview of ongoing trials of PI3K inhibitors in HER2+ disease. Additionally, we review the landscape of PIK3CA mutational testing and highlight the gaps in knowledge that could present potential barriers in the effective application of PI3K inhibitors for treatment of HER2+ breast cancer.

606 Background: Pertuzumab is a monoclonal antibody which binds to extracellular domain II of HER2 distally from trastuzumab, disrupting HER2 dimerization and signaling. Pertuzumab improves progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival when combined with docetaxel/trastuzumab. We report results of a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pertuzumab, trastuzumab and weekly paclitaxel. Methods: Patients (pts) with HER2+ MBC with 0-1 prior treatment (Rx) were eligible. Rx is weekly (w) paclitaxel (80mg/m2), q3w trastuzumab (loading dose 8mg/kg → 6mg/kg), and q3w pertuzumab (flat loading dose 840mg → 420mg). The primary endpoint is PFS at 6 months (mo). Evaluable pts are those who started study Rx and are assessed at 6 mo for PFS, including pts who progressed prior to 6mo. Secondary endpoints include response, safety (including cardiac events), and tolerability. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is monitored by echocardiogram every 3 mo. Cardiac events are defined as symptomatic LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD), non-LVSD cardiac death, or probable cardiac death. Results: As of 1-18-13, 53 pts are enrolled; 36 are evaluable at 6 mo. At 6 mo, 29/36 pts (81%) are progression-free (4 CR, 14 PR and 11 SD); 7 pts progressed. The 6 mo PFS results for all patients will be updated. Median LVEF is 64% at baseline (range 50-72%), 63% at 3 mo (range 50-73%), and 62% at 6 mo (range 49-69%). There are no cardiac events to date. Of the 36 pts, grade 3/4 toxicities include fatigue (3 pts, 8%), peripheral neuropathy (2 pts, 6%), sepsis (1pt, 3%), cellulitis (1pt, 3%), neutropenia (1pt, 3%), and skin ulceration (1pt, 3%). There are no grade 3 diarrhea or febrile neutropenic events in the evaluable pts to date. Conclusions: The preliminary 6-month PFS is 81% (95% CI 67-91%) in evaluable patients. The study is closing to accrual. Treatment is ongoing, with few grade 3/4 toxicities and no signal of increased cardiac toxicity to date. This phase II study demonstrates efficacy and safety for pertuzumab with trastuzumab and weekly paclitaxel in HER2+ MBC. Clinical trial information: NCT01276041.