Targeting Aurora A Kinase to Overcome Treatment Resistance in Advanced HR+/HER2+ Breast Cancer

This pilot clinical trial will evaluate alisertib in combination with standard of care endocrine therapy and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 (HER2)-targeted therapy in participants with Stage IV hormone receptor positive (HR+)/ HER2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer, utilizing our novel 3-gene biomarker signature for patient selection and response prediction

• Alisertib (Drug): Alisertib 40mg on days 1-7 of 21-day cycles for 4 cycles

Primary outcomes

• Clinical benefit defined as partial tumor response (PR) [12 weeks]: As defined by RECIST 1.1. Changes in the largest diameter (unidimensional measurement) of the tumor lesions and the shortest diameter in the case of malignant lymph nodes are used in the RECIST criteria. PR is at least a 30% decrease in the sum of the diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters.
• Clinical benefit defined as complete tumor response (CR) [12 weeks]: As defined by RECIST 1.1 Changes in the largest diameter (unidimensional measurement) of the tumor lesions and the shortest diameter in the case of malignant lymph nodes are used in the RECIST criteria. CR is disappearance of all target lesions. Any pathological lymph nodes (whether target or non-target) must have reduction in short axis to <10 mm
• Clinical benefit defined as decline in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) [12 weeks]: Clinical benefit is defined as a decline in ctDNA by >50%.

Secondary outcomes

• Evaluate safety of adding alisertib to usual care by assessing adverse events [12 weeks]: To assess safety, adverse events related to alisertib will be assessed. They will be assessed using CTCAE v6.0.
• BRD8 signature expression [12 weeks]: The 3-gene BRD8 signature (BRD8/AFF3/RBM24) will be evaluated as a predictive biomarker for response to alisertib combination therapy.

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to any

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age > 18 years at the time of consent.
* ECOG performance status </=2 (Karnofsky >/=60%).
* Metastatic HR+/HER2+ breast cancer (estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) ≥1%, HER2 3+ by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or amplified by in situ hybridization (ISH).
* Prior standard induction treatment with chemotherapy + trastuzumab + pertuzumab (HP) or fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) and have completed a minimum of 4 cycles without progressive disease.
* Planned to start or are receiving endocrine therapy + HER2-directed (HP or pertuzumab/trastuzumab/hyaluronidase-zzxf (PHESGO®)) therapy.
* Demonstrate adequate organ function; all screening labs to be obtained within 28 days prior to registration.
* Left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 50% as assessed by echocardiogram (ECHO) or multi-gated acquisition scan (MUGA) documented within 6 weeks prior to the study treatment.
* Patients must have measurable disease by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors volume 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) or evaluable disease with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) that is detectible. Measurable disease is defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded for non-nodal lesions and short axis for nodal lesions) as ≥20 mm (≥2 cm) by chest x-ray or as ≥10 mm (≥1 cm) with CT scan, MRI, or calipers by clinical exam.
* Willingness to receive growth factor injections for neutropenia prophylaxis. Only patients without any grade 3 or higher neutropenia during induction chemotherapy or T-DXd will be permitted to proceed without prophylactic growth factor support. If the enrolled patients in this trial develop high grade or prolonged neutropenia, the addition of growth factor will be required.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
* Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment has the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are not eligible for this trial.
* Treatment with any investigational drug within 14 days prior to registration, or within 5 half-lives of the investigational product, whichever is longer.

• Kari Wisinski, MD, Principal investigator, University of Wisconsin, Madison