TBCRC 048 (Olaparib Expanded) Expansion Cohorts: Phase II Study of Olaparib Monotherapy for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer With Germline Mutations in <i>PALB2</i> or Somatic Mutations in <i>BRCA1</i> or <i>BRCA2</i>

N Nadine M. Tung (Nadine M. Tung, MD, FASCO, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; Tianyu Li, MS, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; and Judy E. Garber, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA) M Mark E. Robson T Tianyu Li R Rita Nanda P Payal D. Shah (Basser Center for BRCA, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA) K Katia Khoury (Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC) G Gretchen Kimmick (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC) C Cesar Santa-Maria (Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD) A Adam Brufsky (Hillman Cancer Center, Magee-Womens Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh) M Michelle DeMeo (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA) J Joao Pedro Vieira (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA) L Lisa A. Carey (Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC Health, Chapel Hill, NC) G Gerburg Wulf S Susan Domchek (Basser Center for BRCA, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA) I Ian E. Krop A Antonio C. Wolff (Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD) E Eric P. Winer (Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT) J Judy E. Garber (Nadine M. Tung, MD, FASCO, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; Tianyu Li, MS, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; and Judy E. Garber, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA)

Abstract

PURPOSE Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium 048 was a proof-of-principle trial demonstrating responses to the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor olaparib in patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with germline (g) PALB2 or somatic (s) BRCA mutations (s BRCA m). Here we report results from the expansion cohorts in a larger sample of pts with g PALB2 m or s BRCA m. METHODS Eligible pts had MBC of any subtype with measurable disease and a g PALB2 m or s BRCA m. Pts received olaparib 300 mg twice a day until progression. The primary end point was overall response rate. Secondary end points include clinical benefit rate (CBR) at 18 weeks, progression-free survival (PFS), duration of response (DOR), and whether among s BRCA m carriers the mutant allele frequency (MAF) is significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders. RESULTS Fifty-four pts with g PALB2 m (N = 24) or s BRCA m (N = 30) were enrolled. Forty-two (78%) had estrogen receptor–positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HER2–) MBC, seven (13%) had triple-negative breast cancer, and five (9%) had HER2+ disease. Among pts with a g PALB2 m, the overall response rate (ORR) was 75% (80% CI, 60.2 to 86.3), CBR was 83.3% (90% CI, 65.8 to 94.1), the median PFS was 9.4 months (90% CI, 8.3 to 13.1), and the median DOR was 7.0 months (90% CI, 5.6 to 10.4). Among pts with s BRCA m (15 s BRCA1 and 15 s BRCA2 ), the ORR was 36.7% (80% CI, 24.7 to 50), CBR was 53.3% (90% CI, 37 to 69.1), the median PFS was 5.5 months (90% CI, 2.8 to 8.3), and the median DOR was 11.2 months (90% CI, 4.4 to not reached). One additional pt had an unconfirmed partial response. Although clinically meaningful, the ORR in pts with s BRCA m did not achieve the prespecified target. Among s BRCA m carriers, the mean MAF did not differ significantly between responders (46%) and nonresponders (39%; P = .7). CONCLUSION Olaparib is active in pts with MBC with g PALB2 m and s BRCA m, significantly expanding the population of pts with breast cancer likely to benefit from PARP inhibitors beyond g BRCA1/2 m carriers.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 44, Issue 8
Published March 10, 2026
Pages 653-661
ISSN 0732-183X
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0732-183X Health Sciences

Authors (18)

N

Nadine M. Tung

Nadine M. Tung, MD, FASCO, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; Tianyu Li, MS, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; and Judy E. Garber, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA

M

Mark E. Robson

T

Tianyu Li

R

Rita Nanda

P

Payal D. Shah

Basser Center for BRCA, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

K

Katia Khoury

Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC

G

Gretchen Kimmick

Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

C

Cesar Santa-Maria

Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD

A

Adam Brufsky

Hillman Cancer Center, Magee-Womens Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh

M

Michelle DeMeo

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA

J

Joao Pedro Vieira

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

L

Lisa A. Carey

Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC Health, Chapel Hill, NC

G

Gerburg Wulf

S

Susan Domchek

Basser Center for BRCA, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

I

Ian E. Krop

A

Antonio C. Wolff

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD

E

Eric P. Winer

Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

J

Judy E. Garber

Nadine M. Tung, MD, FASCO, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; Tianyu Li, MS, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; and Judy E. Garber, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA