The objective of this study is to compare the progression-free survival (PFS) of the drug combination ramucirumab plus docetaxel to placebo plus docetaxel in previously untreated participants with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, unresectable, locally-recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.

Female participants at least 18 years of age with histologically or cytologically confirmed, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative breast adenocarcinoma that is metastatic or locally-recurrent and inoperable with curative intent will be randomized. Participants may not have received chemotherapy for metastatic or locally-recurrent, inoperable breast cancer.

It is anticipated that 1113 participants will be randomized with 371 participants in the docetaxel plus placebo arm and 742 participants in the docetaxel plus ramucirumab (IMC-1121B) arm. There will be approximately 250 centers in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

On Day 1 of each 21-day cycle, participants will receive docetaxel 75 mg/m² as a one-hour I.V. infusion followed by either ramucirumab (IMC-1121B) 10 mg/kg or placebo 10 mg/kg as a one-hour I.V. infusion. Each cycle is repeated every 21 days.

Treatment will continue until there is evidence of progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity, or other withdrawal criteria are met. Participants who discontinue study treatment with either ramucirumab (IMC-1121B) or placebo may continue to receive docetaxel.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participant is able to provide signed informed consent
• Participant is female and ≥ 18 years of age or older if required by local laws or regulations
• Participant has histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast that is now metastatic or locally-recurrent and inoperable with curative intent. Every effort should be made to make paraffin-embedded tissue or slides from the diagnostic biopsy or surgical specimen available for confirmation of diagnosis
• Participant has measurable and/or non-measurable disease
• Participants' primary and/or metastatic tumor is human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) or chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH) or 0, 1+ overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC)
• Participant has not received prior chemotherapy for metastatic or locally-recurrent and inoperable breast cancer
• Participant completed (neo) adjuvant taxane therapy at least 6 months prior to randomization
• Participant completed (neo) adjuvant biologic therapy at least 6 weeks prior to randomization
• Participant completed all prior radiotherapy with curative intent ≥ 3 weeks prior to randomization
• Participant may have received prior hormonal therapy for breast cancer in the (neo) adjuvant and/or the metastatic setting ≥ 2 weeks prior to randomization
• Participant's left ventricular ejection fraction is within normal institutional ranges
• Participant has resolution to grade ≤ 1 by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Version 3 (NCI-CTCAE v 3.0) of all clinically significant toxic effects of prior chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, or hormonal therapy with the exception of peripheral neuropathy which must have resolved to grade ≤ 2
• Participant has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1
• Participant is amenable to compliance with protocol schedules and testing
• Participant has adequate hematological functions [absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1500 cells/microliter (mcL), hemoglobin ≥ 9 grams/deciliter (g/dL), and platelets ≥ 100,000 cells/mcL and ≤ 850,000 cells/mcL]
• Participant has adequate hepatic function [bilirubin within normal limits (WNL), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), or ≤ 5.0 times the ULN if the transaminase elevation is due to liver metastases, and alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5.0 times the ULN]
• Participant has serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN. If serum creatinine > 1.5 x ULN the calculated creatinine clearance should be > 40 milliliters/minute (mL/min)
• Participant's urinary protein is ≤ 1+ on dipstick or routine urinalysis (UA); if urine protein ≥ 2+, a 24-hour urine collection must demonstrate < 1000 milligrams (mg) of protein in 24 hours to allow participation in the study
• Participant must have adequate coagulation function as defined by international normalized ratio (INR) ≤ 1.5 and a partial thromboplastin time (PTT) ≤ 1.5 X ULN if not receiving anticoagulation therapy. Participants on full-dose anticoagulation must be on a stable dose of oral anticoagulant or low molecular weight heparin and if on warfarin must have a INR between 2 and 3 and have no active bleeding (defined as within 14 days of randomization) or pathological condition that carries a high risk of bleeding (such as, tumor involving major vessels or known varices)
• Women of childbearing potential must implement adequate contraception in the opinion of the investigator
• Participant has not received prior biologic therapy for metastatic or locally recurrent and inoperable breast cancer

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participant has a concurrent active malignancy other than breast adenocarcinoma, adequately treated non melanomatous skin cancer, or other non-invasive carcinoma or in situ neoplasm. A participant with previous history of malignancy is eligible, provided that she has been disease free for > 3 years
• Participant has a known sensitivity to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
• Participant has a known sensitivity to agents of similar biologic composition as ramucirumab or other agents that specifically target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
• Participant has a history of chronic diarrheal disease within 6 months prior to randomization
• Participant has received irradiation to a major bone marrow area as defined as > 25% of bone marrow (such as, pelvic or abdominal radiation) within 30 days prior to randomization
• Participant has participated in clinical trials of experimental agents within 4 weeks prior to randomization
• Participant has a history of uncontrolled hereditary or acquired bleeding or thrombotic disorders
• Participant has active, high risk bleeding (such as, via gastric ulcers or gastric varices) within 14 days prior to randomization
• Participant has an ongoing or active infection requiring parenteral antibiotic, antifungal, or antiviral therapy
• Participant has uncontrolled hypertension, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, symptomatic or poorly controlled cardiac arrhythmia, psychiatric illness/social situations, or any other serious uncontrolled medical disorders in the opinion of the investigator
• Participant has brain metastases, uncontrolled spinal cord compression, or carcinomatous meningitis, or new evidence of brain or leptomeningeal disease
• Participant has known human immunodeficiency virus infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related illness
• Participant has pulmonary lymphangitic involvement that results in pulmonary dysfunction requiring active treatment, including the use of oxygen.
• Participant is pregnant or lactating

Anonymized individual patient level data will be provided in a secure access environment upon approval of a research proposal and a signed data sharing agreement.

Data are available 6 months after the primary publication and approval of the indication studied in the US and european union (EU), whichever is later. Data will be indefinitely available for requesting.

A research proposal must be approved by an independent review panel and researchers must sign a data sharing agreement.