Abstract PS3-09-18: Early AB-ITALY: Evaluating Real-World Use of Adjuvant Abemaciclib and Drug Interaction Risk in HR+/HER2- early Breast Cancer

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Authors: Simone Scagnoli, Monica Verrico, Simona Pisegna, R. Caputo, Francesco Pantano, Pina Tiziana Falbo, Giuliana D’Auria, Armando Orlandi, D. Alesini, Ilaria Portarena, P. Vici, Maria Agnese Fabbri
+26 more L. Rossi, Teresa Di Palma, G. Gentile, M. Bonomo, Luisana Sisca, C. Bonadonna, Lidia Strigari, Giuseppina Rosaria Rita Ricciardi, M. Pizzoli, Erika Giordani, Azzurra Irelli, Maria Vita Sanò, Michela Palleschi, Robert Preißner, Arianna Daneri, O. Garrone, Giampaolo Bianchini, Claudia Martinelli, Carmen Criscitiello, M. Lambertini, A. Fabi, Michelino De Laurentiis, Lucia Del Mastro, G. Curigliano, Paolo Marchetti, A. Botticelli
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Abstract

Abstract Introduction Abemaciclib is a selective CDK4/6 inhibitor approved for adjuvant treatment in patients with high-risk hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) early breast cancer (eBC). The MONARCH-E trial demonstrated significant increase in invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) when combined abemaciclib with endocrine therapy. Nonetheless, real-world data regarding safety, treatment adherence, and drug-drug interactions (DDIs), particularly among elderly and comorbid populations often excluded from clinical trials, remain limited. Evaluating these real-world factors is critical to optimizing treatment and patient outcomes in clinical practice. Methods This retrospective study analyzed consecutive patients with HR+/HER2- eBC treated at 21 Italian oncology centers who received adjuvant abemaciclib combined with an aromatase inhibitor (AI). Comprehensive clinical data, medication usage, and adverse events (AEs) were collected. Drug-PIN®, a platform integrating clinical (age, sex, race, smoking and alcohol habits), laboratory (renal and hepatic function), and pharmacological parameters (chronic concomitant treatments), was utilized to assess DDIs, providing a numeric interaction score (Drug-PIN score) and qualitative risk tiers (green: none; yellow/dark yellow: intermediate; red: high risk). Statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate approaches, identified predictors of AEs. Results We enrolled 714 patients with a median age of 56 years (range 30-86); 44% were premenopausal, and 51% had at least one comorbidity, while 13% had multiple comorbidities. Notably, 60 patients (8.4%) were aged ≥75 years. Genetic testing performed in 350 patients identified 29 mutated. Disease characteristics included node-positive (c/pN2) status in 389 (54%), carcinoma of no special type in 73%, lobular carcinoma in 14%, and high-grade tumors (G3) in 57%. Chemotherapy was omitted in 10% of cases. Oncotype DX testing was conducted in 42 patients (6%), with a mean recurrence score (RS) of 26 (range 8-50); 20 had an RS ≤25. With a median follow-up of 13.2 months (range 1-33), 85% of patients experienced any-grade AEs, primarily diarrhea (76%), asthenia (41%), and neutropenia (27%). Grade ≥3 AEs occurred in 30%, with severe diarrhea reported in 11%, mostly during the first two cycles. Dose reductions were required in 47% and discontinuation due to toxicity occurred in 9.5%. Patients aged ≥75 showed comparable diarrhea rates (p = 0.20) but a trend toward increased dose reductions (p = 0.09). Concomitant medications were reported in 50% of patients, and 8% had polypharmacy. The median Drug-PIN interaction score was 12.0 (range 3-100), with at least one DDI identified in 17.3% of the patients, with 10.5% categorized in the intermediate-high or high-risk tiers. Notably, high-risk DDIs occurred more frequently among patients who discontinued treatment due to toxicity (25% vs 10%, p = 0.04). Conclusions Adjuvant abemaciclib is safe and manageable in real-world settings, even among elderly and comorbid patients, showing slightly higher but comparable AE rates and dose adjustments relative to clinical trials. Overall, abemaciclib treatment presents a low incidence of drug-drug interactions. However, the significant association observed between DDIs and dose reductions emphasizes the necessity for further prospective investigations to better define these interactions and inform clinical practice. Citation Format: S. Scagnoli, M. Verrico, S. Pisegna, R. Caputo, F. Pantano, P. Falbo, G. D'Auria, A. Orlandi, D. Alesini, I. Portarena, P. Vici, M. Fabbri, L. Rossi, T. Di Palma, G. Gentile, M. Bonomo, L. Sisca, C. Bonadonna, L. Strigari, G. Ricciardi, M. Pizzoli, E. Giordani, A. Irelli, M. Sanò, M. Palleschi, R. Preissner, A. Daneri, O. Garrone, G. Bianchini, C. Martinelli, C. Criscitiello, M. Lambertini, A. Fabi, M. De Laurentiis, L. Del Mastro, G. Curigliano, P. Marchetti, A. Botticelli. Early AB-ITALY: Evaluating Real-World Use of Adjuvant Abemaciclib and Drug Interaction Risk in HR+/HER2- early Breast Cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS3-09-18.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Advanced Breast Cancer Therapies Breast Cancer Treatment Studies BRCA gene mutations in cancer

Publication details

Journal / source
Clinical Cancer Research
Volume
32
Issue
4_Supplement
Pages
PS3–09
Publication date
17 February 2026
Language
EN