Datopotamab deruxtecan for treating breast cancer that has spread to the brain

DATO-BASE: A Phase 2 Trial of DATOpotamab-deruxtecan for Breast Cancer Brain metAstaSEs

Phase 2 Interventional Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · NCT06176261

This study is testing a new drug called datopotamab deruxtecan to see if it can help people with HER2-negative breast cancer that has spread to the brain.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment58 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorDana-Farber Cancer Institute Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsdatopotamab, chemotherapy, radiation
Locations3 sites (Miami, Florida and 2 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06176261 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase II trial evaluates the safety and efficacy of datopotamab deruxtecan, an antibody-drug conjugate, in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain. Participants are divided into three cohorts based on their specific breast cancer subtype, including ER-positive and triple-negative types. The study involves various assessments such as imaging scans, blood tests, and treatment visits to monitor the drug's effects. The trial aims to provide new treatment options for patients with limited existing therapies for brain metastases.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer and newly diagnosed or progressing brain metastases.

Not a fit: Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer or those without brain metastases may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could offer a new therapeutic option for patients with metastatic breast cancer that has spread to the brain.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is novel for this specific drug and condition, similar antibody-drug conjugates have shown promise in other studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria :

* Metastatic breast cancer that is pathologically confirmed to be HER2-negative according to 2018 ASCO/CAP guidelines 55.
* Radiological confirmation of metastatic disease.
* Cohorts A and B: Presence of newly diagnosed brain metastases or brain metastases progressing after prior local and/or systemic therapy.
* Cohorts A and B: Participants must have a baseline MRI of the brain performed with and without gadolinium contrast, and must have central nervous system metastases with at least one measurable brain metastasis ≥ 1.0 cm in size (per RANO-BM) that has not been irradiated, or has progressed despite prior radiation therapy and/or systemic therapy (in the opinion of the treating physician). For cohorts A and B, head CT with contrast may be used in place of MRI at baseline and throughout the trial if MRI is contraindicated and the participant's CNS metastases are clearly measurable by head CT.
* Cohorts C: Radiological evidence of evaluable leptomeningeal disease and clinical diagnosis of LMD per treating investigator. A positive CSF cytology is not required.
* Cohort A: prior progression to treatment with at least one line of endocrine treatment (with or without CDK4/6 inhibition) in the metastatic setting is mandatory. Patients experiencing recurrence during adjuvant endocrine treatment will be also considered eligible for the trial. There is no limit on the number of prior lines acceptable for the purpose of enrollment in this study.
* Cohort B and C: no prior treatment is required (i.e., previously untreated patients are eligible). There is no limit on the number of prior lines of therapy acceptable for the purpose of enrollment in this study.
* Participants may have measurable or non-measurable extracranial disease. Participants are NOT required to have extracranial disease, but must have imaging done to document disease status at baseline.
* Age ≥ 18 years.
* ECOG Performance Status 0-2
* Participants must have adequate treatment washout period before registration, defined as \> 4 weeks from major surgery, \> 2 weeks from radiation treatment. For weekly chemotherapy regimens, \> 2 weeks from chemotherapy; for every 3 weekly regimens, \> 3 weeks from chemotherapy. At least 2 weeks from other systemic or targeted or investigational therapies (other than endocrine therapy) for breast cancer. No washout is required for endocrine therapy (e.g. aromatase inhibitors, tamoxifen, fulvestrant) but patients should discontinue prior to start of protocol therapy. Patients on ovarian suppression are allowed (but not required) to continue ovarian suppression at the discretion of their treating provider.
* Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% by echocardiogram (ECHO) or multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan.
* Adequate organ function as defined by the following values:

  * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL. Red blood cell/plasma transfusion is not permitted within 1 week prior to screening assessment.
  * Absolute neutrophil count ≥1,500/mm3. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration is not permitted within 1 week prior to screening assessment.
  * Platelets ≥100,000/mm3. Platelet transfusion is not permitted within 1 week prior to screening assessment.
  * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 institutional ULN if no liver metastases; or ≤ 3 x ULN in the presence of documented Gilbert's syndrome (unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia) or liver metastases at baseline.
  * AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 2.5 × institutional ULN OR ≤ 5.0 x institutional ULN for patients with documented liver metastases
  * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL (or glomerular filtration rate ≥ 30 ml/min as determined by the Cockcroft-Gault equation)
* Participants with a history of chronic viral conditions such as HIV, Hepatitis B/C, should not be systemically excluded but have thoughtful consideration of inclusion, unless safety is a concern. Testing for these conditions is not required at baseline.
* Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 14 days of initiating protocol therapy.
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Visceral crisis or impending visceral crisis
* CNS complications for whom urgent neurosurgical intervention is indicated (i.e., resection, shunt placement)
* Indication for immediate local therapy to CNS lesion(s) as defined by local standard
* Evidence of significant (i.e., symptomatic) intracranial hemorrhage

  -\> 2 seizures within 4 weeks prior to study entry (registration)
* Ongoing/persistent toxicities caused by previous anti-cancer therapy (except alopecia) not yet improved to Grade ≤ 1 OR baseline prior to study entry (registration)
* Known contraindication to MRI (e.g., due to pacemaker, ferromagnetic implants, claustrophobia, extreme obesity, hypersensitivity). However, for cohorts A and B, head CT with contrast may be used in place of MRI at baseline and throughout the trial if MRI is contraindicated and the participant's CNS metastases are clearly measurable by head CT.
* Concurrent administration of other anti-cancer therapy during the course of this study is not allowed. Concurrent use of supportive care medications is allowed, and certain medications are required (see Section 5.1).
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including (but not limited to) active infection, severely compromised pulmonary function, unstable angina pectoris, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, active ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction within the previous six months, gastric or duodenal ulceration diagnosed within the previous six months, chronic liver or renal disease, or severe malnutrition. Note that if a patient has controlled diabetes mellitus, but is unable to monitor blood glucose at home, they will be excluded from the trial.
* Participants must not have a condition requiring ongoing systemic treatment with corticosteroids (\>4 mg daily dexamethasone (or bioequivalent)) or other immunosuppressive medications within 7 days prior to the baseline MRI. Corticosteroids administration must be stable and planned to remain ≤ 4 mg daily for the duration of protocol treatment. However, use of corticosteroids for clinical symptoms is allowed based upon treating physician discretion.
* History of non-infectious interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis that required steroids, current ILD/pneumonitis, or suspected ILD/pneumonitis that cannot be ruled out by imaging at screening.
* A history of uncontrolled seizures, CNS disorders, or psychiatric disability judged by the investigator to be clinically significant and adversely affecting compliance to study drugs.
* A history of malignancy other than breast cancer, except (a) adequately resected non-melanoma skin cancer, (b) curatively treated in situ disease, or (c) other solid tumors curatively treated, with no evidence of disease for ≥ 3 years.
* Major surgery, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to the initiation of protocol therapy, or anticipation of need for a major surgical procedure during the study.
* Clinically significant corneal disease.
* Has a history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to either the drug or inactive ingredients (including but not limited to polysorbate 80) of datopotamab deruxtecan.
* History of severe hypersensitivity reactions to other monoclonal antibodies
* Negative pregnancy test (urine and/or serum) is required for women of childbearing potential. Pregnant or lactating women are excluded from participation due to potential teratogenic effects of study drug.
* Female participants must be either:

  * post-menopausal for at least 1 year
  * surgically sterile, or
  * if of childbearing potential and sexually active with a non-sterilized male partner, must agree to use one highly effective form of birth control for the entire treatment period and for at least 7 months after the last dose of datopotamab deruxtecan (see Section 5.4 for complete list of highly effective birth control methods).
* Female participants must not donate, or retrieve for their own use, ova at any time during this study and for at least 7 months after the last dose of datopotamab deruxtecan.
* Female participants must refrain from breastfeeding while on study and for at least 7 months after the last dose of datopotamab deruxtecan.
* Male participants who intend to be sexually active with a female partner of childbearing potential must be surgically sterile or using an acceptable method of contraception (see Section 5.4 for complete list of highly effective birth control methods) from the time of screening throughout the total duration of the study and the drug washout period (at least 4 months after the last dose of study intervention) to prevent pregnancy in a partner. Male participants must not donate or bank sperm during this same time period.

Where this trial is running

Miami, Florida and 2 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Breast CancerBreast Cancer FemaleMetastatic Triple-Negative Breast CarcinomaER Positive Breast CancerHER2-negative Breast CancerHER2 Negative Breast CarcinomaER-negative Breast CancerHER2 Negative Breast Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.