Infusion-related reactions in patients receiving pertuzumab and trastuzumab: A retrospective study

Abstract BACKGROUND: The use of two anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (pertuzumab and trastuzumab) combined with taxanes is the standard of care for first line treatment in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Infusion related reactions (IRR) during first administration of anti-HER2 mAb have been reported. Reintroduction of the causal drugs is often possible, but there is no data to identify patients at highest risk of developing IRR and modalities of safe reintroduction. The aim of this study was to report patients who experienced IRR during anti-HER2 mAbs infusions at Institut Curie Hospitals (ICH) and to describe these reactions. METHODS: All IRR cases must be reported to the ICH pharmacies. We retrospectively inspected the electronic record of patients who experienced an IRR during pertuzumab (Pmab) and trastuzumab (Tmab). We collected patients’ characteristics, grade of IRR and outcomes. RESULTS: From January 2013 to December 2020, a total of 223 patients had at least one Pmab+Tmab infusion as part of their BC treatment. Among them, 28 patients (8%) with anti-HER2 mAb IRR were identified. All patients but one had an HER2-positive BC; the HER2-negative case was a HER3-mutant mBC. Twelve patients (43%) had de novo mBC. Twenty-six patients (93%) received Pmab+Tmab as first line treatment for mBC. Ten patients were previously exposed to Tmab and three to Pmab+Tmab for (neo)adjuvant treatment. At IRR onset, 21 patients (75%) had liver metastasis, with more than five liver metastases for 19 of them. Fifteen patients (55%) had liver enzymes upper normal limit. IRR occurred during first anti-HER2-mAb infusion in 22 patients (79%) despite pre-treatment with antihistaminic and/or glucosteroids for taxanes. The other IRR were reported at the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 8th and > 10th cycle of Pmab+Tmab. Sixteen IRR (57%) were attributed to Pmab infusion, 9 (32%) to Tmab infusion and 3 (11%) to Tmab and/or Pmab. Al IRR were declared to the pharmacovigilance agency. Majority of reactions were mild to moderate (54% of grade 2). Most frequent symptoms associated with IRR were: thrills (68%), hyperthermia (64%); low oxygen saturation (36%), pain (25%), hypotension (21%), cutaneous (18%) and digestive (18%) reaction. Three patients were transferred to ICU. One death was attributed to anti-HER2 mAb IRR (death was attributed to respiratory distress during the first Tmab infusion). Reintroduction off Pmab+Tmab was performed in 18 patients, after pre-treatment with antihistaminic and/or glucosteroids and with vital function monitoring in conventional hospitalization. No recurrence of IRR was observed in 15/18 patients. For the 3 patients with recurrent IRR, symptoms were mild to moderate. Objective response to anti-HER2 treatments was observed in twenty three patients (82%; 8 complete responses; 15 partial responses). Median PFS was 16 months. CONCLUSIONS: Most anti-Her2-mAb IRR occurs during first infusion, are mild to moderate and do not require a transfer in ICU. Our study suggests that patients with high liver burden might be over-represented among those experiencing an IRR. Reintroduction of Pmab+Tmab was safe in most patients, allowing the continuation of the anti-HER2 dual blockade. Citation Format: Delphine Loirat, Juliette Logeart, Pauline Vaflard, Aurélien Noret, Mathilde Saint-Ghislain, Edith Borcoman, Audrey Hurgon, Cyrille Cros, Thomas Genevee, Audrey Bellesoeur, Francesco Ricci, Florence Lerebours, Laurence Escalup, Marie-Paule Sablin, François-Clément Bidard, Paul H. Cottu, Jean-Yves Pierga. Infusion-related reactions in patients receiving pertuzumab and trastuzumab: A retrospective study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-13-27.