Sponsor: Daiichi Sankyo (industry)
Phase: 2
Start date: Feb. 26, 2024
Planned enrollment: 740
HER3-DXd, also known as patritumab deruxtecan, is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3). It is being evaluated for the treatment of various cancers, including non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer.
HER3-DXd comprises a fully human monoclonal antibody directed against HER3, linked to a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload via a cleavable tetrapeptide-based linker. Upon binding to HER3-expressing tumor cells, the ADC is internalized, and the cytotoxic payload is released, leading to DNA damage and cell death. This mechanism allows for targeted delivery of chemotherapy to HER3-expressing cancer cells while minimizing systemic exposure. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC):
In a phase I study involving 57 patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC resistant to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), HER3-DXd demonstrated a confirmed objective response rate (ORR) of 39% and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 8.2 months. Responses were observed across various EGFR TKI resistance mechanisms and levels of HER3 expression. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
The phase II HERTHENA-Lung01 trial included 225 patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC who had progressed after EGFR TKI therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy. The confirmed ORR was 29.8%, with a median duration of response of 6.4 months and a median PFS of 5.5 months. Notably, antitumor activity was observed across diverse resistance mechanisms and HER3 expression levels. (ascopubs.org)
Breast Cancer:
The phase II ICARUS-BREAST01 trial evaluated HER3-DXd in 99 patients with advanced HR+/HER2- breast cancer who had progressed after endocrine therapy, CDK4/6 inhibitors, and chemotherapy. The confirmed ORR was 53.5%, with a clinical benefit rate of 63.6% and a median PFS of 9.4 months. These results suggest promising efficacy in this heavily pretreated population. (focusononcology.com)
In the phase I NSCLC study, the most common grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were thrombocytopenia (30%), neutropenia (19%), and fatigue (14%). Drug-related interstitial lung disease occurred in 7% of patients, with one grade ≥3 event and no grade 5 events. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
The HERTHENA-Lung01 trial reported grade ≥3 AEs in 64.9% of patients, most commonly thrombocytopenia (21%), neutropenia (19%), and anemia (14%). Treatment-related interstitial lung disease was observed in 5.3% of patients, with one fatal case. (ascopost.com)
In the ICARUS-BREAST01 trial, 55.6% of patients experienced grade ≥3 AEs, with nausea (5% grade 3) and diarrhea (1% grade 3) being the most common. Interstitial lung disease occurred in six patients, all grade 1 or 2. (focusononcology.com)
Last updated: Apr 2025
Goal: Evaluate the antitumor activity of patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) monotherapy across multiple refractory, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic solid tumors, and explore relationships between tumor HER3 expression and efficacy.
Patients: Adults (ECOG 0–1) with measurable, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors after prior systemic therapy. Tumor-specific cohorts include cutaneous/acral melanoma post anti–PD-(L)1 (and BRAF/MEK if BRAFm); SCCHN post platinum and anti–PD-(L)1; HER2-negative gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma after ≥2 prior lines (and a separate second-line cohort after exactly one prior line); high-grade serous ovarian/primary peritoneal/fallopian tube cancer platinum-relapsed; cervical cancer after ≥1 prior line (including potential anti–PD-(L)1 or tisotumab vedotin); endometrial cancer after ≥1 prior line including platinum and anti–PD-(L)1; urothelial carcinoma after prior anti–PD-(L)1 and either chemotherapy or enfortumab vedotin; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after two prior lines including platinum ± anti–PD-1; pancreatic adenocarcinoma after one prior line; metastatic castration-resistant prostate adenocarcinoma post at least one novel hormonal agent and a taxane; nonsquamous NSCLC without actionable drivers after platinum and anti–PD-(L)1; and HR-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer after CDK4/6 inhibitor plus endocrine therapy and exactly one prior chemotherapy line. Key exclusions include HER2-positive gastric cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, mucosal/uveal melanoma, significant or suspected ILD/pneumonitis, chronic high-dose steroids/immunosuppression, prior anti-HER3 or DXd-topoisomerase I ADC, and prior topo-I inhibitors in advanced disease.
Design: Phase 2, multicenter, open-label, nonrandomized, proof-of-concept, parallel multicohort study with tumor type–specific cohorts. Approximately 740 participants will be enrolled.
Treatments: HER3-DXd 5.6 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks as monotherapy. Patritumab deruxtecan is an investigational HER3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate composed of a fully human anti-HER3 IgG1 linked via a cleavable tetrapeptide to a topoisomerase I inhibitor (DXd). After HER3 binding and internalization, intracellular release of DXd induces DNA damage and apoptosis. Clinical activity has been demonstrated across tumor types, including ORR about 30% with median PFS approximately 7.4 months in HR-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer and ORR about 30% with median PFS approximately 5.5 months in previously treated EGFR-mutated NSCLC, with responses observed across a range of HER3 expression levels. Safety signals include gastrointestinal and hematologic toxicities and a class risk of interstitial lung disease (approximately 5–6% in prior trials).
Outcomes: Primary endpoints: confirmed objective response rate by RECIST v1.1 for all cohorts except prostate cancer; proportion with ≥50% PSA decline for the prostate cancer cohort. Key secondary endpoints include safety and tolerability (TEAEs per CTCAE v5.0), duration of response, clinical benefit rate, disease control rate, time to response, progression-free survival, overall survival, pharmacokinetics (Cmax, Tmax, Ctrough, AUClast/AUCtau), radiographic PFS per PCWG3 for prostate cancer, proportions with ≥30% PSA decline, time to first subsequent anticancer therapy, time to first symptomatic skeletal-related event, and correlation of tumor HER3 expression with efficacy metrics (ORR, DoR, PFS).
Burden on patient: Moderate to high. Participants receive IV infusions every 3 weeks with intensive early-cycle pharmacokinetic sampling on multiple days (Cycles 1–4, 6, 8; additional Day 8 and Day 15 draws in Cycles 1 and 3), requiring frequent clinic visits and extended chair time. Baseline and potentially fresh tumor biopsies are required, adding procedural risk and visit burden. Routine safety labs, AE monitoring, and serial imaging per RECIST/PCWG3 are expected at intervals typical for phase 2 studies. Patients with prostate cancer will have regular PSA assessments each cycle. The ADC carries ILD risk, necessitating vigilant pulmonary monitoring and possible additional imaging if symptoms arise. Travel and time commitments may be substantial, particularly during initial cycles with dense PK schedules and for those requiring fresh biopsies.
Inclusion Criteria
Participants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for enrollment into the study:
1. Sign and date the informed consent form prior to the start of any study-specific qualification procedures. A separate tissue screening consent will be obtained from all subjects to meet the baseline tumor tissue requirement.
2. Participants aged ≥18 years (follow local regulatory requirements if the legal age of consent for study participation is \>18 years old).
3. Has locally advanced unresectable or metastatic disease (not curable by surgery or radiation) as follows:
Cutaneous (acral and non-acral) melanoma
1. Histologically or cytologically confirmed cutaneous (acral or non-acral) melanoma
2. Disease progression while on or after having received treatment with ≥1 prior line of anti-programmed cell death protein (PD-1) or anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) based therapy (previous use of other immune checkpoint inhibitors \[ICIs\] \[ie, anti-CTLA4, anti- LAG-3\] is acceptable). Prior anti-PD-(L)1 therapy in the adjuvant setting is allowed if there is recurrence within 12 weeks of the last dose. If the participant had BRAFm melanoma, they must have had disease progression on BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy as well.
Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck
3. Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (with a primary location of oral cavity,oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx) that is human papillomavirus (HPV) positive or negative (as determined by local standard). Excludes tumor location in the nasopharynx, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and unknown primary locations.
4. Disease progression after having received treatment with ≥1 and \<3 prior lines of systemic therapy in the unresectable recurrent or metastatic setting.
Must have had disease progression on anti-PD-(L)1 (either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy or other therapies). Must also have had disease progression on a platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) regimen either in the recurrent or metastatic setting or in the locally advanced setting with curative intent.
Gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma
5. Tumor tissue must be confirmed as negative for HER2 expression (immunohistochemistry \[IHC\] 0/1+ or IHC 2+/in situ hybridization negative) as classified by American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO-CAP) guidelines and determined prior to enrollment by assessment in a local laboratory that is Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certified (US sites) or accredited based on specific country regulations.
6. Disease progression after having received treatment with ≥2 prior lines of therapy that include PBC with or without anti-PD-1 therapy.
Ovarian Carcinoma
7. Pathologically documented high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal cancer, or fallopian tube cancer.
8. Documented disease progression ≥4 weeks after the last dose of PBC and \<6 months of last dose of PBC in the advanced or metastatic setting. Prior use of folate reductase alpha targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) (ie, mirvetuximab soravtansine) is allowed.
Cervical Cancer
9. Pathologically or cytologically documented recurrent or persistent squamous, adenosquamous, or adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.
10. Disease progression after having received ≥1 line of systemic therapy in the recurrent or metastatic setting. This may include prior anti-PD-(L)1 treatment and/or tissue factor directed ADC (tisotumab vedotin \[TV\]) per regional standard of care.
Endometrial Cancer
11. Pathologically or cytologically documented endometrial cancer (carcinoma of any histological sub-type or endometrial carcinosarcoma), irrespective of microsatellite instability (MSI) or mismatch repair (MMR) status.
12. Documented disease progression after having received ≥1 prior line of therapy (maximum of 3) PBC containing systemic treatment and an anti-PD(L)-1 therapy-containing regimen (combined or sequential) in the advanced/metastatic setting.
Bladder Cancer
13. Pathologically or cytologically documented locally advanced/unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the bladder, renal pelvis, ureter, or urethra. Histological variants are allowed if urothelial histology is predominant. Small cell/neuroendocrine tumors are not allowed even if mixed histology.
14. Relapsed or progressed after treatment with ≥1 prior line of therapy (maximum of 3) that contains anti-PD-(L)1 therapy in the perioperative or metastatic setting. At least 1 line of therapy must also contain one of the following treatment modalities: chemotherapy or enfortumab vedotin. Prior fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-inhibitor treatment for those who are eligible are allowed.
* Required treatments can be given in combination or sequentially
* Prior cisplatin-based therapy or PD-(L)1 inhibitor therapy given for the treatment of muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma is counted as 1 line of therapy
* The same regimen administered twice in different disease settings will be counted as 1 line of prior therapy
* Participants in the second-line setting who have previously received enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab in combination can be enrolled.
Esophageal Carcinoma
15. Pathologically or cytologically documented esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
16. Must have documented disease progression after having received 2 prior lines of therapy including previous PBC with or without an anti-PD-1 therapy-containing regimen (combined or sequential) in the advanced/metastatic setting.
Pancreatic Carcinoma
17. Pathologically or cytologically documented unresectable or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
18. Relapsed or disease progression after having received 1 prior line of systemic therapy in the locally advanced/metastatic setting.
Prostate Cancer
19. Pathologically or cytologically documented unresectable locally advanced or metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
20. Adenocarcinoma of the prostate without neuroendocrine differentiation or small cell histology.
21. Surgically or medically castrated, with testosterone levels of \<50 ng/dL.
22. Documented objective progression as determined by radiographic progression for subjects with measurable disease after androgen deprivation.
23. Relapsed or disease progression after having received treatment with ≥1 of the following novel hormonal agents: abiraterone, enzalutamide, apalutamide, or darolutamide.
24. Relapsed or disease progression after having received ≥1 cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen that included a taxane.
Gastric Cancer 2L
25. Must have had gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma confirmed as negative for HER2 expression (IHC 0/1+ or IHC 2+/in situ hybridization negative) as classified by American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO-CAP) guidelines and determined prior to enrollment by assessment in a local laboratory that is Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certified (US sites) or accredited based on specific country regulations.
26. Disease progression after having received treatment with only 1 prior line of systemic anti-cancer therapy that includes 5-FU-based chemotherapy with or without an anti-PD-1 therapy. For subjects whose tumors are claudin (CLDN) 18.2 positive, treatment with 5-FU based chemotherapy with CLDN18.2 directed therapy in the first-line setting is allowed.
Non-small Cell Lung Cancer aa. Histologically or cytologically documented metastatic or locally advanced nonsquamous NSCLC not amenable to curative surgery or radiation bb. Documentation of absence of actionable driver mutation (ie, ALK rearrangement, BRAF V600E mutation, EGFR-activating mutations \[exon 19 deletion or L858R mutation\], EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation, HER2 mutation, KRAS G12C mutation, MET exon 14 skipping mutation, NTRK 1/2/3 gene fusion, RET rearrangement, or ROS1 rearrangement). New testing for these genomic alterations is not required for Screening.
cc. Relapsed or disease progression after receiving only anti-PD-(L)1 and PBC (ie, platinum doublet) administered in combination or sequentially for metastatic disease.
Breast Cancer dd. Pathologically documented breast cancer that is assessed as HER2 negative (IHC2+/ISH-, IHC1+, or IHC0 per ASCO/CAP guidelines), and HR positive (either ER and/or PgR positive \[ER or PgR ≥1%\] per ASCO/CAP guidelines). The HER2 and HR results must be from a tumor sample obtained in the metastatic setting.
ee. Participant must have received one line of chemotherapy for mBC, but not more than one line and must have a clinically or radiologically documented evidence of tumor progression on or after CDK 4/6 inhibitor combined with endocrine therapy; previous treatments with phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, protein kinase B (PKB) inhibitors also known as AKT-inhibitors and poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP)-inhibitors are allowed.
4. Has ≥1 measurable lesion on CT or MRI as per RECIST v1.1 by investigator assessment. Prostate cancer participants with bone only disease may be eligible.
5. Provides a pretreatment tumor tissue sample that meets 1 of the following collection requirements:
1. Tumor biopsy from ≥1 lesion not previously irradiated and performed since progression with the most recent systemic cancer therapy regimen and prior to signature of the tissue ICF (ARCHIVAL PRETREATMENT sample).
OR
2. Newly obtained pretreatment tumor biopsy from ≥1 lesion not previously irradiated and amenable to sampling, after signature of tissue ICF (FRESH PRETREATMENT sample)
6. Has Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0 or 1 at screening.
Exclusion Criteria
Participants who meet any of the following criteria will be disqualified from entering the study:
1. Has HER2-positive gastric cancer as classified by ASCO-CAP guidelines and determined prior to enrollment by assessment in a local laboratory that is Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certified (US sites) or accredited based on specific country regulations.
2. Has nasopharyngeal cancer.
3. Has mucosal or uveal melanoma.
4. Has a history of (non-infectious) interstitial lung disease (ILD), that required corticosteroids, has current ILD/pneumonitis, or suspected ILD/pneumonitis cannot be ruled out by imaging at screening.
5. Has clinically severe respiratory compromise (based on the investigator's assessment) resulting from intercurrent pulmonary illnesses
6. Is receiving chronic systemic corticosteroids dosed at \>10 mg prednisone daily or equivalent anti-inflammatory activity or any form of immunosuppressive therapy prior to Cycle 1 Day 1.
Participants who require use of bronchodilators, inhaled or topical steroids, or local steroid injections may be included in the study.
7. Had prior treatment with an anti-HER3 antibody and/or antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that consists of an exatecan derivative that is a topoisomerase I inhibitor (eg, trastuzumab deruxtecan).
8. Has history of other active malignancy within 3 years prior to Cycle 1 Day 1, except the following:
1. Adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer
2. Adequately treated intraepithelial carcinoma of the cervix
3. Any other curatively treated in situ disease
9. Has any evidence of severe or uncontrolled diseases (eg, active bleeding diatheses, active serious infection) psychiatric illness/social situations, geographical factors, substance abuse, or other factors that, in the investigator's opinion, make it high risk for the subject to participate in the study or that would jeopardize compliance with the protocol
10. Has previously received topoisomerase-1 inhibitors (e.g., irinotecan) treatment in the advanced or metastatic disease setting.
Chermside, 4032, Australia
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Camperdown, 2050, Australia
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Hyde Park, 4812, Australia
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Hobart, 7000, Australia
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Clayton, 3168, Australia
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Edegem, 2650, Belgium
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Brussels, Belgium
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Leuven, 3000, Belgium
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Jette, Belgium
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Ghent, 9000, Belgium
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Toronto, M5G2M9, Canada
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Vancouver, V5Z4E6, Canada
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Toronto, M4N 3M5, Canada
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Bordeaux, 33000, France
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Dijon, 21079, France
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Lille, 59000, France
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Lyon, 69008, France
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Marseille, 13005, France
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Nantes, 44093, France
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Toulouse, 31100, France
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Villejuif, 94805, France
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Genova, 16132, Italy
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Napoli, 80131, Italy
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Verona, 37134, Italy
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Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan
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Yokohama, 232-0024, Japan
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Hidaka, 350-1298, Japan
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Kashiwa-shi, 277-8577, Japan
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Matsuyama, 791-0245, Japan
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Nagaizumi-cho, 411-8777, Japan
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Nagoya, 464-8681, Japan
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Osakasayama-shi, 589-8511, Japan
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Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan
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Maastricht, 6229 HX, Netherlands
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Nijmegen, 6525 GA, Netherlands
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Amsterdam, 1081 HV, Netherlands
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Groningen, 9713 GZ, Netherlands
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Oslo, 0379, Norway
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Seoul, 03080, South Korea
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Seongnam, 13620, South Korea
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Seoul, 03722, South Korea
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Seoul, 05505, South Korea
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Seoul, 06351, South Korea
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Seongnam, 13496, South Korea
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Valencia, 46010, Spain
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Barcelona, 08035, Spain
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Barcelona, 08036, Spain
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Barcelona, 08041, Spain
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Madrid, 28009, Spain
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Madrid, 28034, Spain
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Madrid, 28041, Spain
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Málaga, 29010, Spain
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Seville, 41009, Spain
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Kaohsiung City, 833, Taiwan
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Tainan City, 704, Taiwan
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Taipei, 100225, Taiwan
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Taipei, 11217, Taiwan
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Taoyuan District, 333, Taiwan
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London, NW3 2QG, United Kingdom
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Nottingham, NG5 1PB, United Kingdom
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Coventry, CV2 2DX, United Kingdom
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London, EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom
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Duarte, California, 91010, United States
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New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States
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Kissimmee, Florida, 34747, United States
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Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
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Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States
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Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, 55426, United States
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Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55101, United States
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St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
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Buffalo, New York, 14203, United States
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New York, New York, 10065, United States
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Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States
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Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States
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