Sorafenib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor and by
blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Estradiol can cause the growth of
breast cancer. Hormone therapy using anastrozole may fight breast cancer by blocking the use
of estradiol by the tumor cells. Sometimes when hormone therapy is given, it does not stop
the growth of tumor cells. The tumor is said to be resistant to hormone therapy. Giving
sorafenib together with anastrozole may reduce drug resistance and allow the tumor cells to
be killed. This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of sorafenib
when given in combination with anastrozole and to see how well they work in treating
postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer.
Minimum age: 18 Years.
Maximum age: N/A.
Gender(s): Female.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer
- Metastatic disease
- Measurable disease, defined as >=1 unidimensionally measurable lesion, including >= 1
of the following:
- Lesion >= 10 mm on CT scan (5 mm sections)
- Lesion >= 20 mm on CT scan or MRI (10 mm sections)
- Bone disease that is >= 10 mm on MRI
- Lytic bone lesions that are >= 10 mm on CT scan (with 5 mm sections) OR >= 20 mm
on plain film or CT scan (with 10 mm sections)
- Lesion >= 10 mm on physical exam
- Patients must have received >= 1 prior aromatase inhibitor in either the adjuvant or
metastatic setting and must have had either disease recurrence or disease progression
on a prior aromatase inhibitor therapy
- No brain metastases diagnosed within the past 6 months OR previously untreated brain
metastases
- Estrogen receptor-positive and/or progesterone receptor-positive, defined as > 1%
staining by immunohistochemistry or > 10 fmol/mg of protein by radio-ligand
dextran-coated steroid binding assay
- Postmenopausal, as defined by 1 of the following:
- Prior bilateral oophorectomy
- No menses for >= 12 months in patients with an intact uterus
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in postmenopausal range in patients < 60
years of age who have had a prior hysterectomy or have been amenorrheic for >= 3
months
- Age >= 60 years
- Pre- or perimenopausal patients receiving monthly injections of goserelin at a
dose of 3. 6 mg are eligible
- ECOG 0-2
- More than 3 months
- Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mm3 Platelet count >= 100,000/mm3 No bleeding
diathesis
- Bilirubin =< 1. 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN AST and ALT =< 2. 5 times ULN
- Systolic blood pressure (BP) < 150 mm Hg and diastolic BP < 100 mm Hg on at least one
reading prior to study entry No uncontrolled hypertension
- None of the following within the past 6 months:
- Symptomatic congestive heart failure
- Unstable angina pectoris
- Myocardial infarction
- Cardiac arrhythmia with hemodynamic compromise
- Not pregnant or nursing
- Able to swallow oral medication
- No known HIV positivity
- No ongoing or active infection
- No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
- No other active invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin
cancer or treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix
- No other uncontrolled illness
- More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
- No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease
- At least 8 weeks since prior anastrozole therapy
- Concurrent steroids allowed if dose is stable
- More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
- More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery
- Recovered from prior therapy
- No prior sorafenib
- No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation
- Concurrent prophylactic anticoagulation (i. e., low-dose warfarin) for venous or
arterial access devices allowed provided PT and PTT are =< 1. 5 times ULN
- No concurrent agents that may interact with sorafenib, including any of the
following:
- Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
- Rifampin
- P450 CYP3A4 enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants (e. g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, or
phenobarbital)
- No other concurrent investigational agents
Exclusion Criteria:
- estrogen receptor status unknown
- history of myocardial infarction within 6 months
- performance status 3
- performance status 4
- premenopausal
- progesterone receptor status unknown
- HIV positive