ELEKTRA phase 1b study

Prof Nuhad Ibrahim, medical oncologist at the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, presented at SABCS 2023 the results of the ELEKTRA Phase 1b study.

The ELEKTRA clinical trial is a novel investigation into the efficacy of combining elacestrant, a Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader (SERD), with abemaciclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, for the treatment of newly diagnosed brain metastases from ER+ breast cancer. The rationale behind this combination stems from abemaciclib’s demonstrated activity in brain metastases and the synergistic effects observed when combined with elacestrant. Moreover, elacestrant has shown the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier in animal models.

The phase 1B data, showcased in the presented poster, indicates that the elacestrant-abemaciclib combination is well-tolerated and safe for patients. The promising safety profile has paved the way for the next phase of the trial, where the focus will shift towards assessing the clinical activity in brain metastases. This groundbreaking trial marks the first attempt to utilise a combination therapy for the treatment of ER+ tumours metastatic to the brain. Anticipating positive outcomes, the trial aims to contribute valuable insights that may benefit patients grappling with this challenging condition.

Reference:

Ibrahim N. et al., ELECTRA: An open-label, multicenter, phase 1b/2 study of elacestrant in combination with abemaciclib in patients with brain metastasis (mets) from estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer (BC) – SABCS 2023, # PO2-05-05