This phase III trial is evaluating veliparib (an anti-cancer drug) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatic and paclitaxel) for the treatment of metastatic or locally advanced HER 2 negative breast cancerA Phase 3 Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel With or Without the Poly ADP-ribose Polymerase (PARP) Inhibitor Veliparib (ABT-888) in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2)-Negative Metastatic or Locally Advanced Unresectable Breast Cancer Gene (BRCA)-Associated Breast Cancer

Exclusion

1. More than two prior lines of cytotoxic chemotherapy (e.g., gemcitabine, doxorubicin, capecitabine) for metastatic disease.

   • Regimens received in the adjuvant/neoadjuvant setting or for locally advanced breast cancer within the past 6 months will also be considered toward the maximum of 2 prior lines of therapy. Adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy for one cancer event will count as one prior line of therapy, if received within the past 6 months.
   • Previous treatments with hormonal therapy (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors) and signal transduction agents (e.g., erlotinib, gefitinib, everolimus, bevacizumab) are allowed and are not counted towards the prior line of therapy.
2. Progressed or recurred within 12 months of completing platinum therapy or received > 1 prior line of platinum therapy for breast cancer in any setting (adjuvant, neoadjuvant, or metastatic).
3. Prior therapy with Poly(ADP-ribose)-Polymerase (PARP) inhibitors.

4. Prior taxane therapy administered for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer with the below exceptions.

   • Prior taxane therapy for metastatic breast cancer is allowed if the patient received ≤ 1 full cycle (i.e., therapy discontinued within 4 weeks for subjects receiving weekly paclitaxel or Abraxane; therapy discontinued within 3 weeks for subjects receiving paclitaxel or docetaxel every 3 weeks) in the absence of progression or if taxane therapy for metastatic disease was > 12 months prior to Cycle 1 Day-2 (C1D-2).
   • Use of taxanes as adjuvant therapy or to treat locally advanced disease is permitted, if given more than 6 months prior to C1D-2
5. Known history of allergic reaction to cremophor-paclitaxel, carboplatin, Azo-Colourant Tartrazine (also known as FD&C Yellow 5 or E102), Azo-Colourant Orange Yellow-S (also known as FD&C Yellow 6 or E110) or known contraindications to any study supplied drug.
6. Active CNS metastases or leptomeningeal disease.