Study Background and Disease Burden
Hormone receptor-positive (HR+), ERBB2-negative (formerly HER2-negative) breast cancer constitutes the most frequent subtype of breast malignancy, often treated successfully with endocrine therapies. However, resistance to endocrine therapy and disease progression in advanced breast cancer (ABC) remain significant clinical challenges. CDK4/6 inhibitors such as ribociclib have revolutionized treatment by substantially improving survival outcomes, as shown in the MONALEESA phase 3 clinical trials where the standard ribociclib dose was 600 mg daily. Despite these benefits, ribociclib at 600 mg is associated with dose-dependent adverse effects (AEs), notably neutropenia and QT interval prolongation, necessitating dose interruptions and reductions to maintain tolerability. Balancing efficacy with safety is critical to optimizing patient outcomes, thus raising the question whether a lower starting dose might mitigate toxicity without compromising efficacy.
Study Design
The AMALEE trial was a phase 2, multicenter, randomized, open-label, interventional noninferiority study designed precisely to address the efficacy and safety of a 400 mg versus 600 mg ribociclib starting dose in combination with a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI). Conducted across 107 sites in 23 countries, it included pre- and postmenopausal women with newly diagnosed HR+/ERBB2- ABC. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either 400 mg or 600 mg ribociclib daily plus NSAI, with premenopausal women also receiving goserelin for ovarian suppression. The primary outcome measure was overall response rate (ORR), with secondary endpoints including change in QTc interval, duration of response (DOR), time to response (TTR), progression-free survival (PFS), pharmacokinetics, and safety. The final data cutoff was August 30, 2024, after median follow-up exceeding 53 months.
For context, the NATALEE trial, a large phase 3 study, evaluated adjuvant ribociclib (400 mg daily, 21 days on/7 days off, for 36 months) combined with NSAI in early-stage HR+/ERBB2- breast cancer. While not focused on dose comparison, it demonstrated prolonged invasive disease-free survival (iDFS), reinforcing ribociclib’s efficacy across disease stages.
Key Findings
The AMALEE trial enrolled 376 patients, with baseline demographics and prior therapy well balanced.
Overall response rate (ORR) was 48.9% with ribociclib 400 mg compared with 56.1% with ribociclib 600 mg (ratio, 0.87; 90% CI, 0.74-0.83), failing to meet noninferiority criteria. However, median PFS was comparable between doses—26.9 months for 400 mg versus 25.1 months for 600 mg—and DORs were also similar (26.5 versus 28.8 months). Notably, the time to response was longer with 400 mg (median 13.1 months vs. 9.0 months), indicating a potential delay in initial treatment effect.
Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed the 400 mg dose resulted in a 28.0% lower maximal plasma concentration and 42.7% lower 24-hour area under the curve compared with 600 mg, consistent with reduced exposure.
Patients in the RIB400 arm received RIB400 + a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI), while those in the RIB600 arm received RIB600 + NSAI. The events per number for RIB400 and RIB600 were 46 of 90 and 48 of 103 (A), 90 of 188 and 103 of 188 (B), and 103 of 188 and 97 of 188 (C), respectively. The median DOR of RIB400 and RIB600 was 26.5 and 28.8 months, respectively, the median TTR of RIB400 and RIB600 was 13.1 and 8.0 months, respectively, and the median PFS of RIB400 and RIB600 was 26.9 and 25.1, respectively. B, The probability of a response to treatment over time for the 2 treatment arms.
On safety, the 400 mg group exhibited significantly fewer grade 3–4 neutropenia events (41.0% vs 58.5%) and a lower rate of dose reductions due to AEs (15.4% versus 36.9%). Additionally, QTcF prolongation was less pronounced at the lower dose (12.5 vs 19.7 milliseconds). Rates of liver toxicity, renal adverse effects, interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis, and treatment discontinuations due to AEs were comparable between groups.
The NATALEE trial illustrated durable iDFS benefit with ribociclib plus NSAI over NSAI alone in early breast cancer, with a hazard ratio of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.61-0.84) after a median of 44.2 months follow-up. The incidence of adverse events remained stable over time, supporting the long-term safety profile of ribociclib at the established dose.
Expert Commentary
The AMALEE study provides rigorous evidence that although ribociclib 400 mg maintains comparable progression-free and duration of response in advanced HR+/ERBB2- breast cancer, it does not meet the noninferiority criteria for overall response rate compared to the 600 mg starting dose. This suggests that reducing the dose upfront may risk attenuation of initial tumor response.
Nonetheless, the improved safety profile at 400 mg—with fewer high-grade neutropenias and less QTc prolongation—is clinically meaningful, especially for patients who are frail or have comorbidities heightening their risk. These data underscore the current approach of initiating ribociclib at 600 mg with dose reductions as needed to manage toxicities.
Pharmacokinetic differences between doses further rationalize the observed clinical outcomes, as lower plasma exposure likely contributes to delayed time to response and diminished ORR. Importantly, the NATALEE trial corroborates ribociclib’s benefit in early breast cancer at the 400 mg dosing schedule used there, but these patient populations and clinical settings are distinct.
One limitation of AMALEE is its open-label design and relatively smaller size compared to pivotal phase 3 trials. Longer follow-up focusing on overall survival and quality-of-life metrics would enhance understanding of dose optimization. It remains essential to individualize dosing based on tolerability and patient characteristics.
Conclusion
The AMALEE randomized clinical trial clarifies that a lower ribociclib starting dose of 400 mg does not demonstrate noninferiority in ORR compared with the standard 600 mg dose in HR+/ERBB2- advanced breast cancer, although progression-free survival and duration of response are similar. The 400 mg dose confers a safer profile with reduced neutropenia and QTc prolongation but delays response onset. These findings validate the current standard of care recommending 600 mg starting dose with dose modification according to toxicity.
In parallel, robust data from the NATALEE trial affirm the long-term efficacy and safety of ribociclib in early breast cancer treatment at comparable dosing. Overall, ribociclib remains a crucial therapeutic agent across breast cancer stages, and dose optimization should prioritize maximizing efficacy while managing adverse effects through careful monitoring and adjustment.
Ongoing research should focus on biomarkers predicting toxicity and response to tailor ribociclib dosing, striving for precision medicine approaches that enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.
References
Cardoso F, Jacot W, Kuemmel S, et al. 600- vs 400-mg First-Line Ribociclib in Hormone Receptor-Positive/ERBB2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: The AMALEE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2025 Sep 25. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.3687 IF: 20.1 Q1 . [PMID: 40996770 IF: 20.1 Q1 ]
Fasching PA, Stroyakovskiy D, Yardley DA, et al. Ribociclib Plus Endocrine Therapy in Hormone Receptor-Positive/ERBB2-Negative Early Breast Cancer: 4-Year Outcomes From the NATALEE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2025 Sep 25. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.3700 IF: 20.1 Q1 . [PMID: 40996773 IF: 20.1 Q1 ]
Tripathy D, Im SA, Colleoni M, et al. Ribociclib plus endocrine therapy for premenopausal HR+/HER2– advanced breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2018;379(4):363-373.
Hortobagyi GN, Stemmer SM, Burris HA, et al. Ribociclib as First-Line Therapy for HR-Positive, Advanced Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(18):1738-1748.
