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CompletedNCT01626222MACS2096Updated Feb 23, 2017

4EVER - Efficacy, Safety, Health Economics, Translational Research of Postmenopausal Women With Estrogen Receptor Positive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

A Phase 3 interventional study of Exemestane and Everolimus (RAD001) in Metastatic Breast Cancer, sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Completed at 84 sites in Germany. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2017-02-23.

Sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
301
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

The present multi-center, open-label, single-arm study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety, quality of life and health resources utilization in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer progressing following prior therapy with non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors (NSAI) treated with the combination of Everolimus and Exemestane.

Read the detailed description

In light of the need for new treatment options for postmenopausal, hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative women after failure of prior non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI) therapy, the BOLERO-2 trial was performed and demonstrated significant efficacy of the combinatorial treatment of Everolimus and Exemestane compared to an Exemestane monotherapy in this setting.

In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) by adding Everolimus to exemestane versus Exemestane alone was reported. Adding Everolimus determined a 2.4-fold prolongation in PFS from 3.2 up to 7.4 months and so lowered the risk of cancer progression by 56% for these women. These findings were confirmed by an independent assessment (4.1 vs. 11.0 months, risk reduction: 64%). The quality of life data shows positive trend in the Everolimus plus Exemestane treatment arm. (Baselga 2011, Hortobagyi 2011). Thus, the benefit of the combinatorial treatment versus Exemestane monotherapy was shown in a defined patient population under controlled conditions.

The primary objective of this trial to assess the Overall Response Rate (ORR) in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer progressing following prior therapy with NSAIs treated with the combination of Everolimus and Exemestane. The secondary objectives include, Progression free survival (PFS), Overall survival (OS), Safety, Change in Quality of life scores over time, Health resource utilization. The exploratory objectives reflect scientific interest within the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and are to be modified, if applicable, according to the current scientific state of the art at the time of actual analysis. These include: the influence of age, performance status, cancer activity and inflammation on anxiety and depression; changes in serum bone-turnover biomarkers; Pharmacogenetics of Everolimus in patients with advanced breast cancer; presence and molecular characteristics of Circulating Tumor Cells; correlation of response to Exemestane/Everolimus with Proteomic analysis.

The present national, multi-center, open-label, single-arm study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety, quality of life and health resources utilization of the combination of Everolimus and Exemestane in a broader patient population compared to BOLERO-2, i.e. without limitations as to the number of previous chemotherapy lines, the time point of progression after NSAI therapy, and the previous endocrine therapy as patients under Exemestane monotherapy may be enrolled. Since the combination was shown to significantly improve PFS in the previous BOLERO-2 trial, for ethical reasons no endocrine comparator drugs will be investigated in the present study, due to the low efficacy of Exemestane monotherapy (PFS 3.2 months).

02

Conditions studied

  • Metastatic Breast Cancer

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Keywords

  • Postmenopausal
  • Estrogen Receptor Positive
  • HER2 negative
  • Locally Advanced
  • Metastatic Breast Cancer
  • Everolimus (RAD001)
  • Exemestane
03

In context

Breast Neoplasms

12,544 studies on the registry are indexed under Breast Neoplasms; 2,892 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 301 is above the median of 72 across 9,303 interventional studies indexed under Breast Neoplasms.

Browse Breast Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Novartis Pharmaceuticals is the lead sponsor of 2,673 studies on the registry; 228 are open to participants now.

Of its 576 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 431 (75%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Main Inclusion criteria:

Metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer not amenable to curative treatment by surgery or radiotherapy or any other non-systemic treatment.

Histological or cytological confirmation of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and/or progesterone receptor positive (PgR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative breast cancer Postmenopausal women. Disease progression following prior therapy with non steroidal aromatase inhibitors (NSAI), defined as: Recurrence while on, or following completion of an adjuvant treatment with Letrozole or Anastrozole, or Progression while on or following completion of Letrozole or Anastrozole treatment for ABC/MBC.

Radiological evidence of recurrence or progression on last systemic therapy prior to enrollment.

Patients must have at least one lesion that can be accurately measured or bone lesions: lytic or mixed (lytic + sclerotic) in the absence of measurable disease.

Written informed consent obtained before any screening procedure and according to local guidelines.

Other protocol defined inclusion criteria apply.

Main Exclusion criteria:

HER2-overexpressing patients by local laboratory testing (IHC 3+ staining or in situ hybridization positive).

Patients with only non-measurable lesions other than bone metastasis (e.g. pleural effusion, ascites etc.).

Previous treatment with mTOR inhibitors or known hypersensitivity to mTOR inhibitors.

Symptomatic brain or other CNS metastases. Previously treated brain metastases are allowed provided the patient is free of symptoms, prior radiotherapy for brain metastasis was more than four weeks before enrollment and the dose of corticosteroids is low (i.e. ≤ 10 mg/d Prednisolone equivalent) and stable for at least two weeks prior to enrollment.

Patients with Hepatitis B or C or with a history of Hepatitis B or C. Patients unwilling to or unable to comply with the protocol. Other protocol defined exclusion criteria apply.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
301 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Everolimus & Exemestane

    This study will be performed in 300 postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer progressing following prior therapy with non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors (NSAI) as defined by: 1. Recurrence while on or after completion of an adjuvant treatment including Letrozole or Anastrozole, or 2. Progression while on or following the completion of Letrozole or Anastrozole treatment for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Except for prior use of mTOR inhibitors, there are no restrictions as to the last anticancer treatment prior to enrollment. Patients must have documented evidence of recurrence or progression on last therapy prior to enrollment. Written informed consent must be obtained prior to any screening procedures. The investigator or designee must ensure that only patients who meet all the following inclusion and none of the exclusion criteria are offered enrollment in the study.

    Drug: Exemestane · Drug: Everolimus (RAD001)

Interventions

  • DrugExemestane

    Exemestane is supplied by Novartis until Everolimus is commercially available for the study setting. Afterwards the investigator will prescribe Exemestane according to the individual label. Commercially available Exemestane will be supplied as tablets of 25 mg strength for oral administration. Complete guidelines for management and administration of Exemestane can be found in the package insert. Exemestane will be dosed starting on treatment Day 1. Patients will be instructed to take 1 tablet of 25 mg Exemestane orally. Package insert instructions should be followed. On the first day of each cycle, patients will receive an adequate drug supply (before commercial availability) or a prescription (after commercial availability) for self-administration at home. The investigator must emphasize compliance and will instruct the patient to take Exemestane exactly as prescribed.

  • DrugEverolimus (RAD001)

    Everolimus (RAD001) is supplied by Novartis until Everolimus is commercially available for the study setting. Afterwards the investigator will prescribe Everolimus according to the individual label. Everolimus is formulated as tablets of 10 and 5 mg strength for oral administration. All study medication will be packaged into blister packs. The blisters should be opened only at the time of administration, as the drugs are both hygroscopic and light sensitive. Everolimus will be dosed starting on treatment Day 1. Patients will be instructed to take 1 tablet × 10 mg Everolimus orally with a large glass of water once daily at the same time each day with or without food. On the first day of each cycle, patients will receive an adequate drug supply (before commercial availability) or a prescription (after commercial availability) for self-administration at home. The investigator must emphasize compliance and will instruct the patient to take Everolimus exactly as prescribed.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Overall Response Rate (ORR) after 24 weeks of treatment

    The Overall response rate (ORR) is the proportion of patients with a best overall response of confirmed complete (CR) or partial (PR) response by Week 24. The best overall response is determined from the sequence of investigator overall lesion responses according to RECIST 1.1. To be assigned a best overall response of CR at least two determinations of CR at least 4 weeks apart before progression are required. To be assigned a best overall response of PR at least two determinations of PR or better at least 4 weeks apart before progression (and not qualifying for a CR) are required.

    Time frame: 24 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Progression free survival (PFS) after 48 weeks of treatment

    Progression-free survival (PFS) is the time from date of start of treatment to the date of event defined as the first documented progression or death due to any cause. If a patient has not had an event, progression-free survival is censored at the date of last adequate tumor assessment.

    Time frame: 48 weeks

  2. Overall Response Rate (ORR) after 48 weeks of treatment

    The ORR by Week 48 will be derived from the sequence of overall lesion responses as described for the primary efficacy variable. The ORR by Week 48 will be summarized using frequency tables presenting absolute and relative frequencies together with appropriate confidence intervals

    Time frame: 48 weeks

  3. Overall survival (OS) after 48 weeks of treatment

    Overall survival (OS) is defined as the time from date of start of treatment to date of death due to any cause. If a patient is not known to have died, survival will be censored at the date of last contact. OS will be summarized using the Kaplan-Meier method.

    Time frame: 48 weeks

  4. Safety within 48 weeks of treatment

    The assessment of safety will be based mainly on the frequency of adverse events and on the number of laboratory values that fall outside of pre-determined ranges. Other safety data (e.g. vital signs, and special tests) will be considered as appropriate. For all safety analyses, the safety set will be used.

    Time frame: 48 weeks

  5. Resource utilization

    Data relating to Resource Utilization will be used for the purpose of economic evaluation, which will be carried out and reported as a separate activity. The study population receiving RAD001 plus Exemestane will be compared to alternative cohorts (e.g., purely endocrine treatment with Fulvestrant monotherapy, Exemestane monotherapy or chemotherapy, e.g. Capecitabine) using a Markov model. For each alternative therapy option, median PFS, OS and health-related quality of life will be determined by a systematic review of literature or databases.

    Time frame: 48 weeks

  6. Health-related quality of life

    Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) will be assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR23 questionnaires and the EuroQoL EQ-5D questionnaire. The HADS D questionnaire will be used to assess anxiety and depression. Scoring will follow the instructions of the respective manuals.

    Time frame: 48 weeks

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Study locations

84 sites
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Aachen, 52074, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Amberg, 92224, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Augsburg, 86150, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Augsburg, 86156, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Bergisch Gladbach, 51465, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Berlin, 10367, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Berlin, 10707, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Berlin, 12203, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Berlin, 12552, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Berlin, 12683, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Berlin, 14169, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Berlin, 14195, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Bochum, 44787, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Bonn, 53105, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Bonn, 53111, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Bottrop, 46236, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Braunschweig, 38100, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Bremen, 28209, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Böblingen, 71032, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Chemnitz, 09113, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Donauwoerth, 86609, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Dresden, 01127, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Duesseldorf, 40225, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Erlangen, 91054, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Essen, 45136, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Essen, 45147, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Esslingen, 73730, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Eutin, 23701, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Frankfurt, 60389, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Frankfurt, 60590, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Freiburg, 79106, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Fuerstenwalde, 15517, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Fuerth, 90766, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Fulda, 36043, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Gera, 07548, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Gerlingen, 70839, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Goslar, 38642, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Gütersloh, 33332, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Halle/'Saale, 06120, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Halle, 06110, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Hamburg, 20249, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Hannover, 30177, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Jena, 07740, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Kassel, 34125, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Kiel, 24103, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Kiel, 24105, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Koeln, 50935, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Köln, 50937, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Langen, 63225, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Lemgo, 32657, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Lüneburg, 21339, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Magdeburg, 39120, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Mainz, 55131, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Mannheim, 68165, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Marburg, 35039, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Memmingen, 87700, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Muelheim, 45468, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Muenchen, 80637, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Muenchen, 81241, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Muenchen, 81377, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Muenster, 48149, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Mönchengladbach, 41061, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Mühlhausen, 99974, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    München, 80638, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Nuernberg, 90403, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Oldenburg, 26121, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Plauen-Kauschwitz, 08525, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Ravensburg, 88214, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Recklinghausen, 45657, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Rosenheim, 83022, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Rostock, 18057, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Singen, 78224, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Soest, 59494, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Speyer, 67346, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Stralsund, 18435, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Stuttgart, 70178, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Trier, 54290, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Troisdorf, 53840, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Velbert, 42551, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Villingen-Schwenningen, 78052, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Weißenfels, 06667, Germany
  • Novartis Investigative Site
    Wuppertal, 42105, Germany
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Hadji P, Stoetzer O, Decker T, Kurbacher CM, Marme F, Schneeweiss A, Mundhenke C, Distelrath A, Fasching PA, Lux MP, Luftner D, Janni W, Muth M, Kreuzeder J, Quiering C, Grischke EM, Tesch H. The impact of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition on bone health in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer receiving everolimus plus exemestane in the phase IIIb 4EVER trial. J Bone Oncol. 2018 Oct 2;14:010-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jbo.2018.09.010. eCollection 2019 Feb. PubMed 30515367 ↗
  • Tesch H, Stoetzer O, Decker T, Kurbacher CM, Marme F, Schneeweiss A, Mundhenke C, Distelrath A, Fasching PA, Lux MP, Luftner D, Hadji P, Janni W, Muth M, Kreuzeder J, Quiering C, Taran FA. Efficacy and safety of everolimus plus exemestane in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer: Results of the single-arm, phase IIIB 4EVER trial. Int J Cancer. 2019 Feb 15;144(4):877-885. doi: 10.1002/ijc.31738. Epub 2018 Oct 30. PubMed 29992557 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 23, 2017, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01626222
Lead sponsor
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 22, 2012
Start date
Jun 2012
Primary completion
Nov 2013
Completion
Nov 2013
Last update
Feb 23, 2017

Study contacts

Novartis Pharmaceuticals
study director · Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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