Abstract PS1-08-07: Final results from the Randomized Phase II study of Z-Endoxifen and Tamoxifen in Endocrine Refractory, Estrogen Receptor Positive, HER2 negative Metastatic Breast Cancer (Alliance A011203)

Abstract Background: In the treatment of ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (MBC), randomized phase II/III trials testing selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs), proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), complete estrogen receptor antagonists (CERANs) and selective ER modulators (SERMs) (mostly compared to fulvestrant) have demonstrated modest (1-2 months) improvements in progression-free survival (PFS), mainly limited to patients with ESR1-mutated MBC. In these studies, the median PFS (mPFS) ranges from 3 to 6 months, with shorter mPFS in patients with prior progression on CDK 4/6 inhibitor (CDK 4/6i). Here we report the final results of a randomized phase II study that compared Z-endoxifen (Endx) 80 mg/day with tamoxifen (Tam) 20 mg/day in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER)- positive/ HER2-negative MBC, and report outcomes according to ESR1, PIK3CA, PTEN and AKT alterations (Alliance A011203; NCT02311933). Methods: Postmenopausal women with unlimited prior endocrine regimens (including CDK 4/6i) and up to two chemotherapy regimens for MBC, with tumor biopsy confirmation of ER+ (>10% nuclear staining) and negative for HER2 amplification/overexpression were eligible. Prior adjuvant Tam was allowed if relapse was > 1 year following Tam completion. Patients randomized to Tam could cross over to Endx at progression. The primary end point was PFS analyzed by the interval censored data analytic approach. ctDNA was analyzed for ESR1 and PIK3CA/PTEN/AKT alterations using Guardant360 CDx 74-gene next-generation sequencing-based assay (Guardant Health). Results: Among 108 women who preregistered, 76 (Endx: 40; Tam: 36) were randomized and eligible. Patients were heavily pretreated; all patients had prior exposure to an aromatase inhibitor (AI), 50% had ≥ 2 AI based regimens in the metastatic setting and 50% in each arm had received fulvestrant. Approximately half on each arm received at least one chemotherapy regimen in the metastatic setting. Prior CDK 4/6i therapy was imbalanced (48% on Endx and 28% on Tam). Endx did not significantly prolong PFS compared to Tam (median PFS [mPFS] 4.3 vs 1.7 months; HR 0.72, p=0.168). Because arms were imbalanced according to prior CDK 4/6i exposure, we performed an unplanned analysis demonstrating that Endx improved PFS relative to Tam in CDK 4/6i-naïve patients (mPFS 8.3 vs 2.1 months; HR 0.39, p=0.0097) but not in patients treated with prior CDK 4/6i (mPFS 3.0 vs 1.5 months). In the subset of patients who consented for ctDNA testing (n=28), the mPFS for those with either an activating alteration in the PIK3CA/PTEN/AKT pathway or with an ESR1 mutation was similar as the overall trial. For the 24 patients who progressed on Tam and crossed-over to Endx, the median PFS was 3.5 months (range 1.5-15.0 months) with a 6-month clinical benefit rate of 33.3% (8/24; 90% CI: 17.8-52.1%). Conclusions: Endx did not meet the prespecified threshold for concluding that it significantly improved PFS relative to Tam in a cohort of heavily pretreated MBC. However, the observations of a > 6-month improvement in mPFS in CDK 4/6i-naïve patients, anti-tumor activity following crossover to Tam, and mPFS estimates similar to other novel endocrine agents in development all support the ongoing development of Endx. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U24CA196171, U10CA180820 (ECOG-ACRIN) and 5P50CA116201. Clinicaltrials.gov Id: NCT02311933. https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org. Citation Format: M. P. Goetz, V. Suman, J. Reid, T. Dockter, C. Strand, W. F. Symmans, J. Hawse, A. Storniolo, J. Doroshow, J. M. Collins, H. Streicher, M. M. Ames, A. Tarnower, O. M. Hahn, J. N. Ingle, L. Carey, A. Partridge. Final results from the Randomized Phase II study of Z-Endoxifen and Tamoxifen in Endocrine Refractory, Estrogen Receptor Positive, HER2 negative Metastatic Breast Cancer (Alliance A011203) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS1-08-07.