Real-World Analysis of Clinical and Demographic Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Outcomes in Predominantly Older Patients with HR+/HER2− Metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Abemaciclib in Routine Clinical Practice

Introduction Hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) is the most frequently diagnosed metastatic breast cancer (mBC) subtype. Combinations of endocrine therapy (ET) with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4 & 6is) improve outcomes compared with ET alone. The efficacy and safety of abemaciclib among patients with HR+/HER2− mBC has been demonstrated in the MONARCH clinical trials; however, there is a paucity of real-world evidence, particularly in older patients. Methods and Materials This retrospective cohort study analyzed the electronic medical record data/charts of adult patients with HR+/HER2− mBC receiving abemaciclib in US-based community oncology settings (1 September 2017 to 30 September 2019). Patients with other primary malignancies, clinical trial enrollment, and incomplete charts were excluded. Patient characteristics, treatment attributes and patterns, and real-world outcomes (clinical benefit rate [CBR] and stable disease among patients with response data available, time to chemotherapy [TTC], time to treatment discontinuation [TTD], and progression-free survival [PFS]) were summarized. Multivariable models evaluated the association between demographic/clinical characteristics and outcomes. Results Of the 448 final patients, 99% were female, with a median age of 67 years (25% were ≥ 75 years) and median follow-up of 11 months; most (60%) initiated abemaciclib within 2 years of mBC diagnosis. Patients received a median of 1 (P25 = 0, P75 = 3) prior line of therapy for mBC before abemaciclib, including other CDK4 & 6is (48%) and prior chemotherapy (31%); most (57%) had visceral disease. The CBR for the overall population was 53%, with 48% achieving stable disease. The median TTC was not reached; median TTD was 249 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 202, 304). The median PFS was 329 days (95% CI 266, 386). The discontinuation rate of abemaciclib owing to adverse events (30%) trended higher with age (years) ( P = 0.027): 18–49 ( n = 42; 19%), 50–64 ( n = 155; 25%), 65–74 ( n = 138; 32%), 75–84 ( n = 82; 37%), ≥ 85 ( n = 31; 49%); only 23% of patients overall had a dose hold or reduction prior to discontinuation. Conclusions These patients were older than those in the MONARCH studies with substantial visceral disease, and prior chemotherapy and CDK4 & 6i use. Discontinuation rates were higher than in previous real-world studies (11.9%), highlighting the need for proactive management to optimize outcomes, particularly in older patients with mBC.