combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors blocked
proliferation of CDK4/6 inhibitor–resistant
cancer cells ( 111 , 141 , 158 – 161 ). Recently, two
CDK2-specific inhibitors, PF-07104091 ( 163 )
and BLU0298 ( 164 ), have been reported. PF-
07104091 is now being tested in a phase 2 cli-
nical trial in combination with palbociclib plus
antiestrogens. Another recent study identified a
novel compound, PF-3600, that inhibits CDK4/6
and CDK2 ( 165 ). PF3600 had potent antitumor
effects against xenograft models of intrinsic
and acquired resistance to CDK4/6 inhibition
( 165 ).Aphase2clinicaltrialiscurrentlyeval-
uating this compound as a single agent and in
combination with endocrine therapy in patients
with HR+/HER2–breast cancer and other can-
cer types.
Whole-exome sequencing of 59 HR+/HER2–
metastatic breast tumors from patients treated
with CDK4/6 inhibitors and anti-estrogens re-
vealed eight alterations that likely conferred re-
sistance:RB1loss; amplification ofCCNE2or
AURKA; activating mutations or amplification
ofAKT1,FGFR2, orERBB2; activating muta-tions inRASgenes; and loss of ER expression.
The frequent activation of AURKA (in 27% of
resistant tumors) raises the possibility of com-
bining CDK4/6 inhibitors with inhibitors of
Aurora A kinase to overcome resistance ( 145 ).
In contrast to ER+mammary carcinomas,
TNBCs are overall resistant to CDK4/6 inhi-
bition ( 45 ). A subset of TNBCs display high num-
bers of lysosomes, which causes sequestration
of CDK4/6 inhibitors into the expanded lyso-
somal compartment, thereby preventing their
action on nuclear CDK4/6. Preclinical studiesFasslet al.,Science 375 , eabc1495 (2022) 14 January 2022 15 of 19
Additional target Inhibitor Immune
checkpoint
inhibitorTumor
typeTrial identifier............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Proliferating cells +
PD-L1Carboplatin + etoposide Atezolizumab SCLC: This trial investigates the
potential clinical benefit of trilaciclib
in preserving the bone marrow and
the immune system, and enhancing
antitumor efficacy when
administered with chemotherapyNCT03041311............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Proliferating cells Topotecan SCLC: This trial investigates the
potential clinical benefit of
trilaciclib in preserving the
bone marrow and the immune
system, and enhancing the
antitumor efficacy of
chemotherapy when
administered prior
to chemotherapyNCT02514447............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Proliferating cells Carboplatin + gemcitabine Metastatic TNBC: This study
investigates the potential
clinical benefit of trilaciclib in
preserving the bone marrow
and the immune system, and
enhancing the antitumor efficacy
of chemotherapy when administered
prior to chemotherapyNCT02978716............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Lerociclib
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
ER ER antagonist: fulvestrant HR+/HER2–metastatic
breast cancerNCT02983071
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
EGFR............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Osimertinib EGFR mutant NSCLC NCT03455829
SHR6390
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
ER ER antagonist: fulvestrant HR+/HER2–recurrent/
metastatic breast cancerNCT03481998
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Aromatase Letrozole, anastrozole HR+/HER2–recurrent/
metastatic breast cancerNCT03966898, NCT03772353
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
EGFR/HER2 Pyrotinib HER2+gastric cancer, HER2+
metastatic breast cancerNCT04095390, NCT03993964
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
AR............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................AR antagonists: SHR3680 metastatic TNBC NCT03805399
PF-06873600
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Endocrine therapy Single agent and then
in combination with
endocrine therapyHR+/HER2–metastatic breast
cancer, ovarian and fallopian tube
cancer, TNBC and other tumorsNCT03519178............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
FCN-473c
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Aromatase Letrozole ER+/HER2–advanced
breast cancerNCT04488107
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................RESEARCH | REVIEW
